Electronic Paper Newspapers, magazines, and books may seem fairly low tech to most of us, but they are technologies that work. After all, printed paper is high resolution, inexpensive and flexible. It's also recyclable, which is good for the environment. However, there is one thing you still can't do with paper. Several research facilities have developed a new type of electronic paper that reproduces the best features of traditional paper in an electronic format, but also adds rewritability.
Electronic paper is made from a thin layer of plastic.
By applying a voltage pattern consisting of electrical charges, the particles rotate and create images or text. A different voltage pattern erases old images and creates new ones. Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center, or PARC, calls its electronic paper display technology gyricon. Simply draw or wave the wand over the gyricon sheet and the image appears. Our SumiCam page tells all.