E Ink: it’s not just for eBook readers. The company that makes the screens used in Amazon Kindle and B&N NOOK eReaders is showing off some different applications for the low-power, high-contrast, sunlight readable displays.
For example, there’s a large, four-panel E Ink display at the company’s CES booth showing different digital signage applications. For instance the screens could display a coffee shop menu, arrival and departure information at an airport or train station, museum exhibit details, or artwork.
In any of those situations, you would be able to update the information on the screen using software. You wouldn’t have to manually wipe out the old price of a mocha latte to put in a new price.
Other examples of E Ink screens include a piece of luggage with an E Ink tag instead of a paper one, a flexible smart wristband, a medicine package with the expiration date listed on an E Ink label, and a gas station sign showing the latest fuel prices.
Like eBook readers, these are all applications that are meant to be easy to view under any lighting conditions, and which don’t need high screen refresh rates to play video. And since E Ink displays use no power to display a continuous image, (they only use power when changing an image), it shouldn’t take much power to display text or images on these tags, wearables, or signs.