By Gemma Simpson, 10 November 2006 12:05
NEWS
Imagine unfurling the morning paper to find a flexible electronic display streaming the latest news - this fantasy could become a reality in just two years.
The technology behind the so-called 'e-papers' could also be used for paperless printing, where you simply download a file onto a flexible screen instead of printing it out onto a piece of paper.
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Herman Hauser, co-founder of venture capital company Amadeus Capital Partners, told silicon.com there are no technical challenges left for e-papers and hopes to have a factory producing flexible electronic screens by 2008.
Hauser added paperless printing "can save the world's trees" because it hugely reduces paper usage.
A technology called 'plastic electronics' has been harnessed by boffins to produce flexible electronic displays, combining electronics and print technology on a supple screen.
Comments
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1. Jimmy Jammy
This notion of digital newspapers if just nonsensical filler for your web site. Why would a company go into production of these things when people are already have computers that they can read there news on. Sounds like an incredible waste or resources.
2. anonymous
I agree with the above..
I work in the Newspaper Industry and the next big thing is Direct to Press (avoiding printing plates/etc.) - The industry has recently invested billions in new presses all over the UK (NOT direct to press).. this story is garbage..
Also, unless you can pick up an "electronic paper" for 25p and sit in the bog with it without a wireless connection.. I don't see how this will suddenly catch on... rubbish...
I think the flexible e-paper thing is a great idea and will be very usefull in many areas, but it will be a very long time before newspapers are replaced..
stupid headline... Newspapers are already digital...
3. Gary Thompson
They also said we would have the paperless office by the end of the '80's ....
Book sales have substantially increased over last 15 years and newspapers still sell in their millions - we like our tactile paper, so why try to fix something that ain't broke ?
4. Richard A
I love the idea of us all opening our WiMax enabled e-papers on the morning train... Of course it's completely bonkers and the death of newsprint is certainly not going to happen within 25 years - but I love the crazy, sledgehammer-to-crack-a-nutttines of it all.
When the technology, infrastructure, portable reader (with lightweight 10 hour battery) and content cost less than 60p a day, then maybe... but given that newsprint is a mix of recycled paper and pulp from sustainable new growth forests that actually take carbon from the atmosphere, there is no ecologocal case for this technology.