IT abroad: ITRI demos E-paper Technology

Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), one of the world's largest R&D organizations, has developed e-paper technology which it expects to be used mainly as easily updated signage and posters in shops and other public areas.

ITRI demonstrated prototypes of the e-paper that it aims to commercialize in two years.

The e-paper has the ability to print red, green, and blue in different parts of the paper and a roll-to-roll printing process that is similar to the technology used on a conventional newspaper press, ITRI said. The colors cannot however be mixed.

One example of an application for the product that ITRI demonstrated was an e-paper clock that refreshes electronically with each second. Other possibilities include e-wallpaper and e-tickets that can be recycled and reprinted for hundreds of events.

Commercialized e-paper products could take a bite out of the multi-billion dollar market for conventional paper printing that's dominated by many well-known companies. The flexible display market is expected to surge from US$280 million in 2010 to $5.9 billion in 2015, according to market research firm Displaybank. One of HP's most profitable products is toner cartridges for the printers it makes.

ITRI's e-paper can be printed in a number of ways including with thermal, electrical and physical technology. With small modifications, thermal printers in fax machines can be used to print on the e-paper.