Electronic paper has been around for decades. But it’s only in the past few years that we’ve really began to see their true potential. As of now, e-paper is still widely overshadowed by traditional hard copies like magazines and textbooks. However, this will change soon enough as manufacturers scale up production, innovation takes off and the publishing industry’s digital age takes hold. You can now Check The Island Now.
When e-paper is mass produced on an industrial scale, it will become an even more common sight than notebooks and tablets today — ensuring convenience for consumers in droves. As a result, more and more consumers will be looking to e-paper books.
The Rapid Growth of E-Paper
The use of e-paper has come a long way in recent years. Back in the ’90s, mobile phones began using it for their displays — which was revolutionary at the time. But smartphones now feature bright LED screens that use light emitting diodes (LEDs) or liquid crystal display (LCD). Each of these display types has their own distinct features and limitations. Although LEDs are thinner than LCDs and offer better contrast, they can also be difficult when displayed on devices with curved surfaces.
On the other hand, LCDs have lower energy demands, consume less power and emit less light. This makes them perfect for use in tablets and e-readers. But they don’t work well with touchscreens, since they’re resistant to pressure. The screens also tend to reflect light from the back — which can be a problem if you want to read your e-reader outdoors.
E-paper technology uses a very different approach than that of LCDs or LEDs. First of all, the display doesn’t emit light or consume much power at all. Instead, it reflects ambient light like paper does. Consequently, it requires no backlight or energy source of its own.
E-paper displays also have a much wider viewing angle and are resistant to short-wavelength light, like near-infrared light. This is a major advantage for e-readers, which use these lights for reading or consuming media.
Beyond the Features of E-Paper Displays
According to recent research, e-paper will also be cheaper than LCD or LED displays, once mass production begins. The paper technology costs half that of LCDs and less than 1/30th of LEDs. All of this makes e-paper a great choice for readers who want to upgrade their current books without having to shell out big bucks.
The Benefits of E-Books
E-books themselves aren’t new. However, for a long time, they were still overshadowed by the convenience of traditional books. These days, their popularity has only continued to grow — especially with the rise in ebook readers such as Amazon’s Kindle and Kobo.
In fact, according to recent research from Pew Research Center, 68% of Americans now have read at least one book in full on an e-reader or listened to an audiobook version. This is a staggering number that shows just how popular e-books are becoming in the publishing world — especially with younger audiences.
