[Interview] Philips Targets E-paper at Chassis, Wallpapers

Philips Research, a Netherlands-based research organization, announced a color electronic paper (e-paper) technology called "e-skin" at an academic conference held in December 2009 in Japan.

The e-paper, which is not targeted at electronic book readers but at the chassis of devices and room wallpapers, was exhibited at the 16th International Display Workshops (IDW '09), an international academic conference that took place in Miyazaki City, Japan, from Dec 9 to 11, 2009. Philips Research is now seeking a business partner to commercialize it.

We interviewed Kars-Michiel H Lenssen, Display Applications & Technologies Principal Scientist Director at Philips Research, about the e-skin.

What do you expect the e-skin to be used for?

Lenssen: The e-skin makes it possible to easily change the colors of the surface of a device, wall and window according to mood and surroundings.

For example, when used for the chassis of an electric pot, it is possible to change its color to blue when the water inside is cold and red when the water is hot. If the e-paper is used for the wallpaper of an MRI or X-ray CT scan room in a hospital, it is possible to change the mood of the room depending on patients so that they can feel easier.

We are expecting that, at first, the e-skin will be used to change the colors of small devices such as portable music players and mobile phones. But we consider that it can be used for a variety of applications like changing the colors of walls, windows and so forth.

This time, we prototyped e-paper that is square-shaped and several centimeters on a side. But, technically, it is possible to make larger size e-paper.

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