Squaro Engineering has just developed their first e Ink product called Badgey. It features a 2.9 inch e-paper display with a resolution of 296×128 E and a five-way tactical switch for user input. The default firmware includes support for WiFiManager and OTA updates. This device retails for $29.99 and they offer volume pricing options, but it does not come with a battery, it has to be purchased separately.
The source code is available on Github, so companies will be able to customize and tweak it for commercial purposes. SE will also develop custom firmware for companies that want to have a more hands free approach, although they have not disclosed exactly how much they charge for this sort of thing.
E Ink badges are starting to become big business and the Badgey completely sold out in a few days. One of the biggest players is Blendology, who has been making interactive badges with a lanyard for a number of years. The company focuses on interactive elements such as being able to tap another badge to get that persons contact information and their technology has been used at over 350 events in 40 countries around the world. They do not sell the badges, but they rent them out.
Michael Kozlowski is the editor-in-chief at Good e-Reader and has written about audiobooks and e-readers for the past fifteen years. Newspapers and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times have picked up his articles. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
