Field Emission Display technology, developed by Sony and Motorola, will make its debut in 2009. While its initial use will be in the broadcast and medical arenas, the FED may also put ultra-flat tubes on the longterm wish lists of consumers.

FED has been under development by various parties, in one form or another, since the 1970s. The Sony/Motorola version currently exists as a 19-inch prototype with 1080 by 1920 resolution though consumer-worthy models may start at 30 to 60 inches.

Like a CRT display, FED flings electrons at the front surface of a vacuum tube. But in lieu of a CRT's single electron gun, it uses a multi-part emitter, in this case using carbon nanotubes.

FED is similar but not identical to the ill-fated SED display originally to have been launched by Canon and Toshiba. That product got tied up in a legal dispute involving Texas-based Nano-Proprietary Inc., which had licensed the technology to Canon, then abruptly backed out.

See FED coverage in DVICE and Wiki.