Abstract

<h2>Acta Crystallographica Section A</h2><h3>Crystal Physics, Diffraction, Theoretical and General Crystallography</h3><h3>0567-7394</h3> <h2>books received</h2> Volume 37 Part 3 Page 448 May 1981 <h2> Ultrasoft X-ray microscopy: its application to biological and physical sciences edited by D. F. Parsons</h2> J. H. Robertson Acta Cryst. (1981). A37, 448 The physics and chemistry of liquid crystal devices. Edited by G. J. SPROKEL. New York, London: Plenum Press, 1980. Price US$42.50. The possibility of using liquid crystals for displays was recognized just over ten years ago. Today the world production of LCDs (liquid crystal displays) is probably around fifty million per annum. This phenomenal growth may be traced to the fact that there was a need for a compact, low-power display and the LCD, which consumes only of the order of a p.W cm-2 of active display area, fulfilled that need. At present the demand is almost entirely for digital displays for watches, pocket calculators and portable electronic instruments, but already other formats, analogue displays and relatively simple matrix displays, are beginning to appear on the market and the future looks very promising indeed. However, in point of fact, is this remarkable trend likely to continue in the 80s? As it turns out, many