The future of e-paper (as well as paper)

Electronic paper (e-paper) refers to display technologies that require very little electrical power to maintain page content. In contrast, backlit flat-panel displays require signficantly more power to operate. The e-paper term comes from the aspiration to have the technology function like paper, with little or no power needed to maintain an image once it has been imprinted and to be flexible (although folding is beyond current technology capability)

Citizen E Ink Clock      Seiko E Ink Watch 

Another benefit of e-paper is the lack of stress on the eyes thus making it more comfortable for prolonged use. This is due to the physical characteristic that light is reflected by e-paper rather than being emitted as in backlit display technologies. The ultimate in e-paper is the ability to read it in direct sunlight which is something next to impossible with backlit displays.

There are endless applications for e-paper once it becomes refined enough as a technology suitable for mass adoption. Today, a leading application is its use in e-readers such as Amazon's Kindle, Barnes & Noble's Nook and Sony's Reader.

The latest Amazon Kindle uses E Ink Pearl technology for its display capable of operating for a month on a single battery charge. This wireless reading device is offered with Wi-Fi and 3G. With the introduction of the iPad in 2010 and the rollout of tablet computing devices (see related Android Mindshare and Penetration), Amazon is working on a touch-screen technology to integrate with its E Ink display. Imagine a thin & lightweight tablet computer. Kindle Thin & Light, thinner and lighter than a paperback book.

That is precisely what I want to do at poolside.

Candlestick stock charts are available for companies mentioned in this article:
Amazon   Barnes & Noble   Sony