Last year, the Flexible Display Center showed off the first prototypes of displays so thin and light they can be rolled up and stuffed into your Levis or North Face backpack.
Now, the Center is saying it is ready with a touchscreen version. The touchscreen capability has been enabled by integrating a low-power display from E Ink and Epson, say researchers. E ink's technology also powers Amazon's Kindle and Sony's e-book reader.
Flexible diplays, or paper thin displays made almost entirely of plastic were of the biggest technology breakthroughs of 2008. The low-power displays are rugged, sunlight-readable, light weight and will allow users to enter, store and transmit real-time data, said Nick Colaneri, director of the Flexible Display Center in a statement.
The Center housed at Arizona State University has been working with the U.S. Army to create these displays that could be available in limited field trials in about two to three years.
The flexible touchscreen display supports user input either by stylus pen or by touch. It consumes power only when the electronic paper is activated. Once sketched on the display, information can be stored or sent wirelessly before erasing.
Companies have already started working on creating manufacturing technology processes for these displays. In December, HP said it created the first prototype of an "affordable" flexible electronic display. HP's manufacturing process would allow flexible displays to be created using roll-to-roll manufacturing, much like how a newspaper is printed in the press. The move would reduce production costs, said HP.
You can check out the video of the latest touchscreen display.
Photo: Prototype of flexible display
Original here
No comments:
Post a Comment