Researchers hope to one day create an e-newspaper that will update itself with new headlines each day. But, as it stands, the display is still too thick to be folded in two.
The screen is run with an electronic network called a thin-film transistor array. On top of the array is a conducting layer containing millions of tiny capsules of charge-sensitive black and white pigments.
The print-like image of the screen is created by a negative voltage that moves the white particles to the surface and a positive voltage that brings up black particles. Since the pattern remains for about 10 minutes after the voltages are removed, this electronic display is cheaper than others.
The screen takes about a quarter of a second to refresh. Researchers are confident that they can increase this speed, which would even allow them to make video screens out of clothes. This type of display would need to refresh every 15 milliseconds.
Nature.com May 8, 2003
Isn’t technology wonderful? These screens will offer incredible flexibility in future computers.