E Ink is introducing a new technology, Print Color, for eReader and eNote applications. This is the same technology that Good e-Reader got the worldwide exclusive at the Wac0m Connected event in Tokyo. This new ePaper platform utilizes a new printed Color Filter Array (CFA) technology in conjunction with E Ink’s second generation, faster and brighter, Carta 1100 ink. The new printing process alleviates the need for a glass-based CFA, making the displays thinner and lighter than previous generations, while simultaneously having higher optical quality. This allows eReader companies to combine the power of traditional black and white displays with color for a more fully realized eBook shopping experience. In addition, E Ink’s faster ink enables quicker updates for animations and video. With this new color technology, E Ink’s eNote product lines are now able to introduce writing tablets with color highlighters, pens and markers, giving new options for education and professional devices.
E Ink’s Advanced Color ePaper (ACeP) is geared toward signage applications that benefit from the low power requirements of E Ink’s technology, along with color for a richer experience. The first generation of this technology achieves a full color gamut using only colored pigments. The richness of the colors is achieved by having all the colored pigments in every picture element (pixel). The ACeP™ platform maintains the ultra-low-power and paper-like readability of black and white E Ink ePaper. Current customers are using this technology in large retail promotional signage, where a light emissive display is not appropriate. E Ink has now made this technology available in a new developer’s kit, available through their online store.
E Ink is now offering smaller displays using the ACeP technology with a limited, but supersaturated, color palette. These displays are geared toward Smart Retail applications; specifically for end-cap, store aisle and window promotions. Retailers are able to update store signage consistently with their shelf tags, and offer the most up-to-date pricing and promotion to customers. The high resolution, reflective display allows images, QR and barcodes, and text, with future sizes planned from small to mid-size, enabling detailed promotional information.
“E Ink is very excited to showcase this portfolio of new color products for Smart Signage, Retail and Education,” said Dr. FY Gan, President of E Ink. “E Ink has continued to invest in technology development throughout our history, and these new color offerings allow our customers greater flexibility in realizing their product visions.”
All of E Ink’s color offerings maintain the benefits inherent in ePaper displays: low power, sunlight readability and a wide viewing angle. More importantly, for reading intensive applications, as E Ink displays are reflective, and not emissive, long form reading and writing are benefited because ePaper does not emit blue light, which can damage the retina and disturb sleep patterns. As the power consumption of E Ink’s color displays are similar to that of traditional black and white displays, retailers can deploy signage in locations that are not hardwired, and easily move end cap signs from one location to another.
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.