Bendy Phones and flexible e-ink screens

[Bilbo1967]

Saw this article on the BBC web site today. It's ostensibly about 'bendy' phones, but there's a lot in there about flexible e-ink screens as well. In case anybody's interested.

[xendula]

Thanks for sharing!!
I think it's safe to say that there is noone on this forum more interested in a rollable color eink reader than me - I want one so bad it hurts!!

My next kindle (it of course is lighted):


Also check out: Study brings us step closer to rollable, foldable e-devices

[Quexos]

While I can understand the technological breakthrough of a bendy phone or reader, I just don't understand the reason for its use ?
What would you need to spend your days bending a reader for, maybe to release your stress ?

[Kumabjorn]

It is the first step towards a foldable device. Imagine having a device the size of an iPhone that you can fold out to a 12" tablet. Finally you will have PDF in original size, no more scrolling or squinting.

[Nexutix]

Originally Posted by Quexos

While I can understand the technological breakthrough of a bendy phone or reader, I just don't understand the reason for its use ?
What would you need to spend your days bending a reader for, maybe to release your stress ?

I broke screen of my previous ipod touch in backpockets of pants.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Quexos

While I can understand the technological breakthrough of a bendy phone or reader, I just don't understand the reason for its use ?
What would you need to spend your days bending a reader for, maybe to release your stress ?

The most important aspect of it isn't so much the "bendiness", but the fact that a reader with such a screen, even if rigid, would be a lot more resilient to accidental breakage.

[xendula]

Originally Posted by Quexos

While I can understand the technological breakthrough of a bendy phone or reader, I just don't understand the reason for its use ?
What would you need to spend your days bending a reader for, maybe to release your stress ?

The size when not in use would be small enough that you could always have it with you. You could have a phone that expands to the size of a tablet when needed. Or you could have phone built into a bracelet. Or an errader in a pen!

Of course, for now, manufacturers focus more on producing custom shapes (wrap-around screens) and making their devices less accident prone, like was mentioned higher above.

[Dulin's Books]

Originally Posted by xendula

Thanks for sharing!!
I think it's safe to say that there is noone on this forum more interested in a rollable color eink reader than me

You'd be vying with me for that spot. I am one of the few outside of the companies making attempts at this that has actually held a real working foldable display device- albeit a b&W one. I played with a Readius a few years back when I met with the Polymer Vision folks at SID Display week in Seattle and kept an email conversation with them for at 5 years or so. I even have a Christmas card here with a picture of thousands of Readius devices produced before their financial troubles in 2009.

They had been rescued by Wistron but now the company is shutting down the PV division.

http://www.the-digital-reader.com/20.../#.ULuFjobpUuU
http://www.plusplasticelectronics.co...ion-69544.aspx

i still have hope that something will be spun out of the division as there was some talk about that early this year. their dream device (which they had made working prototypes of) is still mine as well

[VaultBoy]

Sign me up!

[Quexos]

Rolled-up like parchments used to be in middle ages. That would be quite something if those really came on the market.

Originally Posted by xendula

Thanks for sharing!!
I think it's safe to say that there is noone on this forum more interested in a rollable color eink reader than me - I want one so bad it hurts!!

[Ravensknight]

Originally Posted by HarryT

The most important aspect of it isn't so much the "bendiness", but the fact that a reader with such a screen, even if rigid, would be a lot more resilient to accidental breakage.

This!

I take my T1 almost everywhere with me, but I am paranoid about the screen breaking. I would like a device that I can literally throw in my bookbag, which I can then toss around to my heart's content.
Or put it in my pocket and not worry about it [like my little slider phone]

[xendula]

OK, Dulin's Books, you win! I'll humbly take second place.

[SteveEisenberg]

Originally Posted by Quexos

While I can understand the technological breakthrough of a bendy phone or reader, I just don't understand the reason for its use ?

I remember first reading about this, as a possibility, decades ago. The thought was that this would be close enough to the form factor of a newspaper to replace newsprint. But, personally, my preferred newspaper form factor is now a 6 inch eInk device.

Originally Posted by HarryT

The most important aspect of it isn't so much the "bendiness", but the fact that a reader with such a screen, even if rigid, would be a lot more resilient to accidental breakage.

For someone as clumsy as I am, definitely. But, somehow, I will find a way to do it in. Can one of these pups make it through a dishwasher cycle?

[xendula]

^ Same here. A decade ago I thought that was cool for newspaper sized epaper, now, I would never have the patience to deal with a reading surface that big any more.

[jarrahloh]

I can't wait.
All media technology is limited due to the human eye.
This is the step to great solutions.

Just before HD hologram technology of course