Electronic paper

Electronic paper or intelligent paper, is a display device that reflects ambient light, thereby mimicking the appearance of ordinary ink on paper. This is in contrast to conventional flat-panel displays, which require additional energy to emit their own light. This configuration may make them more comfortable to read, and provide a wider viewing angle than most light-emitting displays. An ideal e-paper display can be read in direct sunlight without the image appearing to fade.

Technologies include Gyricon, electrowetting, interferometry, and plasmonics. Many electronic paper technologies hold static text and images indefinitely without electricity. Flexible electronic paper uses plastic substrates and plastic electronics for the display backplane. Applications of e-paper include electronic shelf labels and digital signage, bus station time tables, electronic billboards, smartphone displays, and e-readers able to display digital versions of books and magazines.