Phoenix-based newspaper, The Arizona Republic, is experimenting with an advertising technique that could eventually lead to a revolution in the way the news is published. The paper has teamed with E Ink to develop electronic ink signs for placement in 50 public locations during a three-month trial period. And because they're going to be communicating messages to over 50 locations, the use of Immedia assures all locations will deliver the same news in sync with each other.
Electronic ink is actually a liquid in which millions of tiny microcapsules have been placed.
Each capsule contains white particles suspended in a dark dye. When an electric field is applied, the white particles move to one end of the microcapsule where they become visible. This makes the surface appear white at that spot. An opposite electric field pulls the particles to the other end of the microcapsules where they are hidden by the dye. This makes the surface appear dark at that spot.