Invention of digital ink and paper
Back? The future of books
Description:
With the recent invention of digital ink and digital paper dynamic screens can display content as text and images as if it were printed on real paper. This e-paper can be implemented in small portable devices and because power is only needed when a page is changed, battery life potentially is incredibly long. These devices are specifically made to display eBooks and are forming an imposing threat to traditional printed books. An eBook reader has to be purchased once and can then be used to display a potentially infinite amount of books that can be obtained cheap or even for free using the internet, or sometimes even the eBook reader itself. Currently these devices are not very common yet, but are increasing in popularity. Amazon’s kindle has sold half a million times now and other manufacturers are also selling their own readers. When these devices become more common it will pose a devastating threat to printed books, as eBooks are often a lot cheaper.
Enablers:
Technological advancements
Current eBook readers do have the digital ink and digital paper technology and thus read like a traditional paper book and don’t consume power when not changing a page. Still they lack in certain areas when compared to a book. First of all they lack in resolution, this means that illustrations will look ‘grainy’ and that whole pages can sometimes not be displayed at once on the device. Secondly all currently available readers are black and white only, making colored printed book obviously superior over them.
But a lot more is possible with this new technology. Things that could be introduced in the near future might be foldable screens, which would make it extremely easy to be stored and very space efficient. Also the ability to add video and sound playback would make the device more interesting, allowing for books to be accompanied by video clips and sound fragments.
All these innovations could lead to eBook reading gaining in popularity and increasing the demand for eBooks, rather than traditionally printed books.
Price drops
EBook readers are fairly pricey when compared to normal books, and even when taking in consideration that only one has to be bought to display all eBooks it is still a big investment. Other than that the technology is changing rapidly and a reader you buy today might become obsolete in a short as one year. This may put buyers off from buying such a device and instead make them revert to print.
Because of optimization of the development process, increase in production or price drops in resources, EBook-reader manufacturers will be able to offer their product at lower prices and because the technology will mature people will only have to buy one and never have to upgrade it again, or at least not for a long time. This will increase the amount of reader in circulation and will reduce sales of printed books and increase sales and popularity of digital books.
Trends
Just like all major “gadgets” of the twenty-first century, eBook-readers can become a trend or “the thing you got to have”. This happened to the mobile phone, the mp3-players, the digital compact camera and even stranger gadgets like the Tamagotchi and led powered key chains.
When an electronic device starts gaining more and more popularity and (media)- attention, it could become a “trend” and suddenly everyone wants to have one. This not only sparks sales of the devices but also will cause the emerge of more companies that will produce the readers and will also cause more innovation and technological advancements, which in turn will boost sales and popularity even further. If this happens it is very plausible that a very large population will own an eBook-reader and will drastically lower the demand for printed books.
Personalized advertising
Inhibitors:
Slow refresh rate
Electronic paper technologies have a very low refresh rate comparing with LCD technologies. This prevents producers from implementing sophisticated interactive applications (using fast moving menus, mouse pointers or scrolling) like those which are possible on handheld computers. This has a major impact on the e-paper capacity to display zoomed version of large text or images on a small display.
Timing:
Electronic paper was first developed in the 1970s by Nick Sheridon at Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center.
In the 1990s another type of electronic paper was invented by Joseph Jacobson, who later co-founded the E Ink Corporation which formed a partnership with Philips Components two years later to develop and market the technology
In 2005, Philips sold the electronic paper business as well as its related patents to Prime View International.