Electronic paper debuts in Tokyo

 

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By Alun Williams

Posted on 14 Jul 2005 at 17:39

Forever just on the horizon, but year after year never getting closer. As well as holographic displays and integrated speech processing and pervasive computing, you could add electronic paper to the set of key technologies that seem to be always just out of reach.

But maybe electronic paper is about to roll up and plug in to an office near you. Following work by Philips early last year - Philips rolls out flexible displays - Fujitsu Labs have announced a research breakthrough.

Describing it as the world's first 'film substrate-based bendable colour electronic paper with an image memory function', the electronic paper is thin, flexible, and lightweight. As it doesn't require electricity except during image changes, Fujitsu is also proclaiming its low power consumption.

The Japanese researchers claim it could be used wherever paper is currently used, such as for advertisements or information bulletins in public places. It can also be used in conjunction with mobile devices as an easy-to-read and portable display device.

The paper is constructed of three display layers - red, blue, and green - and since no colour filters or polarizing layers are required, the colours should be more vivid than conventional reflective-type LCDs.

Also, according to Fujitsu, colours are unaffected when the screen is bent or pressed with fingers, and because the image doesn't require repetitive updates to be maintained, the screen should not flicker.

The futuristic Fujitsu paper showcases at Fujitsu Forum 2005, at the Tokyo International Forum, 14 July. Commercial applications are expected before March 2007.