The launch of color digital paper moves us further towards the transformation of newspapers

By

Our Newspaper Extinction Timeline that we launched last week refers to news-on-dead-tree-paper. One of the fundamental dynamics that is driving this shift is the rise of digital paper that has almost all the qualities of print, as well as the advantages of digital. I wrote about the transformative power of e-paper in 2005, and things are pretty much on track from the snapshot I provided five years ago.

E Ink, which leads the industry, provides the screens for the Kindle, Nook, and Sony Reader. The advantages of digital paper over traditional computer screens include extremely low power requirements, only using power when the screen is changed, and passive screens that can be read in any ambient light, just as real paper. Remaining deficiencies include lack of color, and the inability to show high-quality video. Rollable digital paper has existed for some years though still needs further development.

However color digital paper is now in the commercial space with the launch of E Ink’s Color ePaper Triton, as shown in this video (via Akihabara News and Engadget).

E Ink Triton Imaging Film from E Ink Corporation on Vimeo.

The first device announced with this color digital paper is a 10″ digital book reader from Hanvon.

Yes there is certainly a lot further to go with the development of digital paper, however the pace we see this progressing in coming years is a key element in how we believe news consumption will shift from dead trees to digital devices.