OLED (organic light-emitting diode) gets a lot of press for some very interesting and very flat TVs, but we pretty much know that technology is very far off from being a major competitor in the television market. But there are other ares in which the technology may also make a mark.

Research firm DisplaySearch is saying that OLED is going to take off in 2011 in the category of lighting. “The unique features of OLED lighting are inspiring the imagination of designers. OLED lighting devices emit from the surface, can be made flexible/rollable, and even transparent like a window or reflective like a mirror. OLED lighting is thin, rugged, lightweight, and has fast switch-on times, wide operating temperatures, no noise and is environmentally friendly. The power efficiency of OLED lighting has also improved dramatically in recent years,” says Jennifer Colegrove, PhD, Director of Display Technologies at DisplaySearch.

Here's a look a the projected market size through 2018.

Source: OLED Lighting in 2009 and Beyond: The Bright Future