Sharp's Way of Reshaping Television

When Sharp Corp. wowed the world with its flat-screen liquid-crystal-display (LCD) television in 2001, it wasn't just a technological breakthrough. It was a step away from the box. "For the first time ever, television gave way to design," says Michio Ogawa, a senior member of the design team that created Sharp's pioneering Aquos line. "Flat panels turned the television from an eyesore when it's not turned on to an interior-design fashion statement."

LCD technology has always been Sharp's strength. It was the first company to mass-produce the LCD calculator, and has been a leader in displays for gadgets like cell phones, camcorders...