ASU’s Flexibile Display Centre and military partners have produced the first active-matrix display with a flexible touchscreen. Based on active-matrix electrophoretic display technology from E-Ink Corp. (Cambridge, Mass.) The new flexible touchscreen uses materials supplied by DuPont Teijin Films, which manufacturers the plastic used as a substitute for glass in conventional touchscreens. The flexible touchscreen display supports real-time user input either by stylus pen or by touch, and consumes power only when the electronic paper is activated. Once sketched on the display, information can be stored or sent wirelessly before erasing.
The new display paves the way for larger applications, such as in interactive e-newspapers that save paper while bringing lots of information to users and allow them to be folded up for carrying and storage. The touchscreen display will be used in military applications at first, lightening soldiers’ burdens by slimming heavy battery packs. Sadly, The Flexible Display Centre estimates that this flexible touchscreen display won’t be available for another 18 months.
