Sharp has developed an LCD screen that can display a total of five primary colors, two more than usually used. In addition to red, green and blue, the prototype features cyan and yellow color filters. The result: A screen capable of reproducing 99% of the surface colors existing in the real world through what Sharp calls “Multi-Primary-Color Technology”.

According to Sharp, colors that are difficult to render for LCDs currently on the market aren’t a problem for their model, i.e. the emerald blue of ocean water. Enhanced color reproduction usually results in higher power consumption, but the company claims it leveled this off by using an extremely economical backlight.

We are likely to see the new LCD in some selected areas first, for example in museums, industrial design or remote medical treatment systems. It’s currently being showcased at the international symposium of the Society for Information Display (SID) in the form of a 60.5-incher with 1,920×1,080 resolution and 2,000:1 contrast ratio (the picture shows a conventional Sharp LCD).