A plasma screen is a flat panel display where light is displayed by the use of phosphors (emit the visible light). The phosphors are excited by a gas discharge between two panels of glass. The gas discharge is a mixture of noble gases which are not harmful (comply with guidelines for TV radiation emissions).

Plasma screen TV's offer a large screen area that provides excellent picture quality with low picture distortion, unlike rear projection for example. There are currently a large number of plasma TVs available on the market, and it looks like it will become the main technology for large screen televisions.

The inventor's of the technology were Donald L. Bitzer and H. Gene Slottow. They were both members at the University of Illinois, and created the plasma display around 1964. Plasma screens did sell quite well in the 1970s, but as CRT displays became cheaper the plasma screen just couldn't compete.

Ever since then plasma's have basically been a lucrative niche market, with companies such as Fujitsu General selling plasma's displays in the 1990's. Only since the year 2000 and the introduction of dvd / home cinema sets have plasma displays become mass market. The desire in the general population for home cinema displays and sound has hugely increased sales in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

This has meant CRT has become a technology in decline. The future for large screen TVs is plasma. If you visit retailers like www.tribaluk.com you will notice how Plasma TV categories have substantially expanded. Prices have also plummeted in the past two years. Whilst a 46 inch screen had an average price tag of £3000 in 2005, now you can expect to pay £900 (end of 2007).

Update, September 2010: As you would expect, the plasma technology has lowered in price. High definition now comes as standard. The improved resolution can now take advantage of Bluray and high definition broadcasts offered by the BBC, ITV and BskyB. The next development in plasma would appear to be 3D televisions. Presently the technology is very expensive, with only a few plasma 3D televisions available for purchase.