E Ink shows off front-lit, flexible e-paper displays

Alisa · 10-26-2007, 02:25 PM

Not sure if I missed someone posting this but I just saw this over on Engadget::

http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/26/e...aper-displays/

vivaldirules · 10-26-2007, 02:40 PM

I like the lighting, I think, unless it's a battery hog. But I'm curious about what people think about the flexible displays: why would you want one and what would you do with it? If it's flexible, that implies it's unsupported and will be subject to being folded or kinked or otherwise mangled. Does someone have a good idea how such a thing would be practical and why it would be better than a rigid display? Just curious.

Alisa · 10-26-2007, 02:45 PM

The flexible paper would be great for things like advertising displays but for readers, I think the main implementation would be something like the Readius concept. The case controls how it rolls up.

You can see the Readius here:

http://www.polymervision.com/

vivaldirules · 10-26-2007, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alisa

The flexible paper would be great for things like advertising displays but for readers, I think the main implementation would be something like the Readius concept. The case controls how it rolls up.

Cool! I'm certainly in favor of smaller devices and larger displays.

jasonkchapman · 10-26-2007, 02:54 PM

Another advantage to a flexible display, even in a rigid case, is that it would be far less vulnerable to minor impact or torsion damage.

NatCh · 10-26-2007, 05:03 PM

I'm astonished that this hasn't generated more excitement -- we've been belly-aching about not being able to read e-ink in the dark, and someone finally is working on a front-lit e-ink display, and it's greeted with the sort of enthusiasm usually reserved for visits by relatives you don't hate, but don't really like either. What's up with that? Everybody sleeping out there or something?

I'm pretty excited that E-Ink is pushing ahead with larger displays too, but the prospect of, say, a PRS-510 that has a front-light built in is a big deal -- that's one of the biggest perceived lacks in the present e-ink devices.

I'd also love to see an e-ink ring watch, since I evidently can't get an atomic clock receiver chip put in my head.

Barcey · 10-26-2007, 06:24 PM

I suspect the large flexible screen is intended to give the feeling of reading a magazine. Just a guess.

I know that lack of lighting has been a sore point for a lot of people but it's not an issue for me. I have a good back lit screen on my Sony Clie and I find that I get eye strain from reading on it for a long period of time. I wouldn't want to turn it on and compromise battery life anyway so I'm happy without it.

Glad to see they're listening to their customers though.

EatingPie · 10-26-2007, 06:26 PM

I'm with you NatCh. My whole reason for popping into the thread was to see if there was more info on that front light.

The image on engadget is really hard to figure out. An iddy biddy e-ink display in a gymondo case?

Given the coloration of that picture, the front light most likely uses a very tiny LED, or an array. This is good for battery life, though in relative terms, it will be a lot worse than the Reader's current 3 week average.

Great news! Now, the biggest issues are going to be (a) getting these into the Reader, and (b) making sure the LED isn't too blue.

-Pie

Alisa · 10-26-2007, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EatingPie

Now, the biggest issues are going to be (a) getting these into the Reader, and (b) making sure the LED isn't too blue.

A bi-color LED would rock. It could be like having the regular Lightwedge and the new night-vision red one all in one unit.

nekokami · 10-26-2007, 08:40 PM

Weird. I thought I did post in this thread.

Anyway, I do kinda miss the self-lighting on my eBookwise 1150. It will be a long time before I'll be able to afford replacing my iLiad, but if they come out with a self-lit model, I suppose it'll make my list eventually. As long as it still takes stylus input -- I use that too much to trade it for any other feature, even lighting.

drgnbear · 10-26-2007, 11:42 PM

I wonder why this couldn't be produced as an aftermarket light for the sony reader?

Goshzilla · 10-27-2007, 01:26 AM

Looks promising. Being front lit is far different from back lighting that alot of LCD monitors and handhelds use. So at least the level of eye strain will be less since light isn't directly shinning into the eyes. With this approach it should be easy to incorporate it into the current devices right now. If in the next few months this doesn't happen, something is seriously wrong with both Irex and Sony.

watcha · 10-27-2007, 10:10 AM

I cannot understand this excitement over a torch fitted to an e-ink display. Switch on a light for goodness sake. The whole point of e-ink for me is it's small power consumption and lack of eye strain. I never saw any belly-aching over the fact that paper printed matter has no back, front or side light!

nekokami · 10-27-2007, 11:30 AM

Old argument, no possible resolution. Next....

Alisa · 10-27-2007, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by watcha

I cannot understand this excitement over a torch fitted to an e-ink display. Switch on a light for goodness sake. The whole point of e-ink for me is it's small power consumption and lack of eye strain. I never saw any belly-aching over the fact that paper printed matter has no back, front or side light!

I would imagine the light would come with an off switch if you don't want to waste battery life on it. Yes, we know paper books don't have lights. One of the great things about technology and innovation is that we can actually improve on the way things used to be.

10-26-2007, 02:25 PM	#1
Alisa Gadget Geek Posts: 2,324 Karma: 22221 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Paperwhite, Kindle 3 (retired), Skindle 1.2 (retired)	E Ink shows off front-lit, flexible e-paper displays Not sure if I missed someone posting this but I just saw this over on Engadget:: http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/26/e...aper-displays/

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10-26-2007, 02:40 PM	#2
vivaldirules When's Doughnut Day? Posts: 10,059 Karma: 13675475 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Houston, TX, US Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad	I like the lighting, I think, unless it's a battery hog. But I'm curious about what people think about the flexible displays: why would you want one and what would you do with it? If it's flexible, that implies it's unsupported and will be subject to being folded or kinked or otherwise mangled. Does someone have a good idea how such a thing would be practical and why it would be better than a rigid display? Just curious.

10-26-2007, 02:45 PM	#3
Alisa Gadget Geek Posts: 2,324 Karma: 22221 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Paperwhite, Kindle 3 (retired), Skindle 1.2 (retired)	The flexible paper would be great for things like advertising displays but for readers, I think the main implementation would be something like the Readius concept. The case controls how it rolls up. You can see the Readius here: http://www.polymervision.com/

10-26-2007, 02:54 PM	#5
jasonkchapman Guru Posts: 767 Karma: 2347 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: NYC Device: Sony Reader, nook, Droid, nookColor, nookTablet	Another advantage to a flexible display, even in a rigid case, is that it would be far less vulnerable to minor impact or torsion damage.

10-26-2007, 05:03 PM	#6
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	I'm astonished that this hasn't generated more excitement -- we've been belly-aching about not being able to read e-ink in the dark, and someone finally is working on a front-lit e-ink display, and it's greeted with the sort of enthusiasm usually reserved for visits by relatives you don't hate, but don't really like either. What's up with that? Everybody sleeping out there or something? I'm pretty excited that E-Ink is pushing ahead with larger displays too, but the prospect of, say, a PRS-510 that has a front-light built in is a big deal -- that's one of the biggest perceived lacks in the present e-ink devices. I'd also love to see an e-ink ring watch, since I evidently can't get an atomic clock receiver chip put in my head.

10-26-2007, 06:24 PM	#7
Barcey Wizard Posts: 1,531 Karma: 8059866 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Canada Device: Kobo H2O / Aura HD / Glo / iPad3	I suspect the large flexible screen is intended to give the feeling of reading a magazine. Just a guess. I know that lack of lighting has been a sore point for a lot of people but it's not an issue for me. I have a good back lit screen on my Sony Clie and I find that I get eye strain from reading on it for a long period of time. I wouldn't want to turn it on and compromise battery life anyway so I'm happy without it. Glad to see they're listening to their customers though.

10-26-2007, 06:26 PM	#8
EatingPie Blueberry! Posts: 888 Karma: 133343 Join Date: Mar 2007 Device: Sony PRS-500 (RIP); PRS-600 (Good Riddance); PRS-505; PRS-650; PRS-350	I'm with you NatCh. My whole reason for popping into the thread was to see if there was more info on that front light. The image on engadget is really hard to figure out. An iddy biddy e-ink display in a gymondo case? Given the coloration of that picture, the front light most likely uses a very tiny LED, or an array. This is good for battery life, though in relative terms, it will be a lot worse than the Reader's current 3 week average. Great news! Now, the biggest issues are going to be (a) getting these into the Reader, and (b) making sure the LED isn't too blue. -Pie

10-26-2007, 08:40 PM	#10
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	Weird. I thought I did post in this thread. Anyway, I do kinda miss the self-lighting on my eBookwise 1150. It will be a long time before I'll be able to afford replacing my iLiad, but if they come out with a self-lit model, I suppose it'll make my list eventually. As long as it still takes stylus input -- I use that too much to trade it for any other feature, even lighting.

10-26-2007, 11:42 PM	#11
drgnbear Evil alien overlord. Posts: 57 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2007 Device: Kindle	I wonder why this couldn't be produced as an aftermarket light for the sony reader?

10-27-2007, 01:26 AM	#12
Goshzilla Zealot Posts: 104 Karma: 346 Join Date: Oct 2007 Device: Rocket Ebook 1150	Looks promising. Being front lit is far different from back lighting that alot of LCD monitors and handhelds use. So at least the level of eye strain will be less since light isn't directly shinning into the eyes. With this approach it should be easy to incorporate it into the current devices right now. If in the next few months this doesn't happen, something is seriously wrong with both Irex and Sony.

10-27-2007, 10:10 AM	#13
watcha Not so junior! Posts: 29 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: UK Device: iRex Iliad	I cannot understand this excitement over a torch fitted to an e-ink display. Switch on a light for goodness sake. The whole point of e-ink for me is it's small power consumption and lack of eye strain. I never saw any belly-aching over the fact that paper printed matter has no back, front or side light!

10-27-2007, 11:30 AM	#14
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	Old argument, no possible resolution. Next....