I think you should be careful not to confuse LCD segments with symbols etched out of plastic, with white plastic moulding and a single LED per 'symbol' - pretty much how seven-segment displays work.
The photo in the first post is clearly an LCD, where-as many lights/inidicators in vehicles are just moulded panel indicators with LED's or filament bulbs behind each one. There's a thick black mask over it all to increase the contrast, but in full sunlight these segments - which are just diffuse epoxy poured into moulds - can glow making it appear like they're all lit. This is where circular polarisers work extremely well, light that enters is strongly attenuated when it leaves, where-as light that originates from the display can leave, albeit with 50% loss (<10% loss if using 3M's polarising reflector film, great stuff!).
Sadly I've made my own using moulds to make the white plastic housing (the white plastic is a lambertian surface, scattering light making it much more even) filled with diffuse epoxy. The walls separate the symbols so there's no bleed between them and a blank PCB just with SMD LED's does the job. Its a hell of a lot of work and of course not very flexible, but for static symbols it can look rather nice. Wasn't for a job, purely curiosity and bordom
![Embarrassed :-[](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/xembarrassed.gif.pagespeed.ic.zcm3EmNu9T.png)
An example, aside form the obvious 7-seg displays and bargraphs are things like these:
https://selectronic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/small-led-display-set-top-box-600x600.jpg?779920with each segment being its own chamber and diffusing epoxy poured in. Light from almost any angle shone on the underside makes the entire segment light up because it is scattered so well.
Sure high contrast TFT's are the most versatile, but there's still a place for these LED glyphs, wider temperature range, simple and intuitive, no software drivers or variable LCD drive to go wrong. Its just for small runs its far too expensive to go custom. Its probably why VFD's are still about, a bastard to drive but excellent viewing angle and contrast.
In terms of finding a display module with a very high contrast (and without resorting to a TFT) these look pretty good:
http://www.data-modul.com/us/news/current-news-overview/current-news-content/items/high-contrast-lcd-displays-for-industrial-applications-467.htmlI am currently using the cheaper version of this for a project:
https://www.adafruit.com/product/2088 Its a TFT, so 'cheating', but I am thoroughly impressed with its contrast and how readable it is in bright light. Not great in sunlight, but I'm running the backlight at 10mA. I have another 20 on order for a small panel, with each display having its own symbol. Not bad for £3 a pop.