LG, Samsung and Lenovo have all been working on stretchable screens for at least two years. It looks like Lenovo will be the first to market; they've announced their ThinkBook Plus Gen 6, a laptop whose screen expands from 14" to 16.7". While that doesn't sound like much, the company says it adds "nearly 50%" of additional screen space.

"With its rollable screen, the device offers an extended vertical display ideal for applications such as document review, coding, project management, and content creation. Professionals in creative fields and technical roles will appreciate the split-screen functionality that supports multiple window layout without sacrificing screen space."

Here you can see the screen unrolling:

It's a neat parlor trick for sure, but these days my assumption is that everything will break. Where do you send this thing when the motors conk out? Also, I can't be the only one picturing the motors dying when the screen is in the extended position.

There's also the question of how long-lived an innovation this will be; will we be wearing screens in front of our eyeballs in ten years, or still toting laptops around?

In any case, Lenovo showed off a working prototype this month at CES, and here Engadget gives it the once-over:

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They expect to start shipping the $3,500 laptops this June.