Electronic paper newspaper - new information channel

This April, De Tijd, a Belgian financial newspaper, began releasing a "e-newspaper" version: a device with a touch screen, low power consumption, using digital ink. .

This technology has been reflected in the action movie - the Minority Report, in which a passenger on the subway bus has read the USA Today newspaper via a thin, foldable video screen. and wirelessly connected.

However, now this is no longer only on movies. This month, De Tijd, a Belgian financial newspaper, began releasing several "e-newspaper" versions: devices with touch screens, low power consumption, using digital ink. - millions of capsule microbes with a width of just one hair, can display black and white images depending on the current.

This is just one of several tests of electronic paper equipment with the ambition to make them "iPod of the newspaper industry". The Herald Tribune, of The New York Times, is also considering to post articles on a product similar to De Tijd later this year.

The device De Tijd uses is called iLiad, manufactured by iRex (a subsidiary of Philips Electronics). Sony is also about to release e-paper, capable of downloading books, newspapers and podcasts for about $ 400. These products have an average weight of 0.3 kg (light enough to hold with one hand), can update information as soon as it reaches wireless access points (Wi-Fi hotspots) or via Internet connection and enable page turning with one touch key.

Currently, publishers around the world are struggling to cope with the decline in circulation. Electronic paper technology promises to help them access more readers while saving printing and distribution costs.

" Readers often read the news before going to work and we released it before 7:30 am, but that's not enough, " said Kris Laenens, De Tijd's electronic paper project director. " We need to provide information wherever and whenever they need it ."

While e-paper cannot yet display colors and only has 16 levels of lightness, they can still attract advertising organizations to participate in the experiment. Information segments may change at different times of the day, thus avoiding morning and evening beer advertising.

Les Echos, now in Pearson (the parent company of The Financial Times), approached technology in a different direction. Instead of directing the print format to the device, the company customizes the data so that it looks like a website version.

" Many publishers are seriously considering e-paper technology and this is really a new kind of communication channel. Some organizations are also looking to become the first units to form new markets, " Jochen said. Dieckow, in charge of sales and research of IFRA press organization (Germany), commented.

Update 12 December 2018