Smartphones may be where most folding display innovation is happening right now, but E Ink isn't being left behind and has recently demonstrated its latest version of a folding electronic paper touchscreen device.
As GoodEReader reports, E Ink unveiled this new e-paper device back in June, but has since greatly improved on the folding mechanism, lighting, and functionality available. As the video below shows, the 10.3-inch flexible display doubles as a touchscreen and uses up to four gears to handle safely opening and closing the reader.
Down the right-hand side are five buttons allowing for page turning (forward and backwards), loading the Home screen, settings, and a back button. Along the top there's two light bars that rotate 90 degrees to act as lighting for both pages. We have to remember this is just a prototype and can only hope that eventually the light is integrated into the display as we've come to expect on non-folding E Ink screens such as those used by the Kindle and Nook.
E Ink has been working on folding e-paper for years, with a 10.2-inch prototype appearing as far back as 2017. If nothing else, it shows how difficult perfecting the technology is, and we clearly still have some way to go, be that in phone or e-reader form. The idea of an e-reader that offers the same form factor as a real book is going to be highly desirable for some, and we could eventually get a Kindle Fold appearing if E Ink perfects the technology. It may also end up being a color display based on E Ink's other recent R&D efforts.
Further Reading
- Amazon Adds 2 New Color Options for Kindle Paperwhite
- How to Get Free (or Cheap) New Ebooks
- Report: PocketBook Is Launching a Color E-Reader This Year
- E Ink Develops New Color E-Paper Display
- More in Ebook Readers