The world of thin, flat displays is undergoing a significant transformation with the emergence of Electronic Paper.
Electronic Paper is a remarkable technology that allows anything presently printed on paper to be replaced with a soft, electronic equivalent. For example, envision a broadsheet newspaper that refreshes its content every morning or a Soft Book that lets you load an entire tome and flip through pages just like a physical book.
This technology addresses many of the limitations that plague current display technologies. It offers high resolution, a wide viewing angle, no need for backlighting, and low power requirements. The display has a paper-like white background with excellent contrast.
While the best available monitors today provide around 100 dpi resolution, Electronic Paper already offers 150 dpi and has the potential to scale much further.
The technology is based on the principles found in traditional printing, using black pigments on a light background. One of the significant advantages of Electronic Paper is that it is non-volatile, meaning it can hold its picture without the need for continuous power. This feature makes it highly appealing for mobile devices, and some prominent mobile phone manufacturers are already expressing interest in the technology.
The potential of Electronic Paper has not gone unnoticed, with impressive investments from companies like Philips, Motorola, and Lucent. e-Ink, the company behind this innovation, has raised $100 million from these influential investors.
With such strong backing and promising features, e-Ink is expected to make significant advancements in the field of electronic displays. Keep an eye on e-Ink as it is likely to bring about exciting changes in the display technology landscape.