The dream of printed electronic wallpaper in our homes that can change color and patterns is not quite a reality yet but a digital wall that changes color and texture could be available in our homes by the end of the year.
The SmartBricks that change color and texture use a low powered reflective cholesteric liquid crystal-based technology (digital ink) created by Magink who are jointly developing the product with Denpeki Kaihatsu KK, a member of the Japanese developer group of advanced construction products whose aim is to revolutionize building design in urban environments with high-performance digital walls.
According to Magink, reflective displays produce natural and soft images that enhance the environment rather than dominate it. The eye also suffers less muscle fatigue when viewing reflective images as opposed to artificially bright images produced by emissive or transmissive displays. The overall effect of reflective mode is more like changeable wallpaper which in principle only needs power when the image has to change.
The revolutionary digital walls will provide consumers with the ability to constantly change the appearance of their personal housing environment to suit their visual tastes - with a look that is more like an embedded digital surface rather than a large TV display on the wall.
Denpeki is working with Shimizu Corp., a leading general construction company in Japan, to test and demonstrate prototype SmartBricks. The group plans to release the product at the end of 2009.
For more attend Printed Electronics Asia 2009.
