CHAPTER 5 Input/Output: Computers in Action
Electronic Ink
A company called E Ink has created a technology that will enable us to read electronic books that have the same look and feel as traditional books. A special type of electronic ink is applied to flexible paper that has the same appearance as standard paper. E ink is a new material that may have a far-reaching impact on how society receives its information. The actual ink is a liquid that can be printed on almost any surface. Each one of the many millions of tiny microcapsules contains particles suspended in a dark dye. Electronic signals cause the particles to move within the microcapsules, thus enabling the presentation of information. At present this technology is being implemented in indoor signs because large letters are easier to generate. The company is confident that e-books using this technology will be possible in three or four years. The content of the book can be changed by simply downloading new material into the e-book in the same way you might do so into a laptop PC.