Final answer:
Twisted nematic (TN) technology describes a type of liquid crystal display (LCD) that utilizes the property of liquid crystals to manipulate the polarization of light, enabling the display of text and images on devices such as computers and TVs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The technology known as twisted nematic (TN) refers to a type of liquid crystal display (LCD) technology. Liquid crystals are unique materials that can align their molecules even in a liquid state, allowing them to control the polarization of light passing through them. This ability to rotate the polarization by 90° can be switched on and off with the application of a voltage, a feature that is central to the functionality of LCD screens found in devices such as laptops and televisions.
LCDs that utilize TN technology can create contrast patterns by manipulating the orientation of liquid crystals quickly and in very precise regions, which allows for the display of images and text. The application of voltage to these crystals changes their orientation and consequently affects whether light can pass through subsequent polarizing filters, enabling the display to present graphics and information.