Electrowetting

= Electrowetting = toc The process of using electric charge to move colored oil drops to display color images or video. Due to the fact that electrowetting has a high switching speed it is particularly effective at displaying video. Advantages of electrowetting include drawing much less voltage and power than traditional displays [including eInk], being much thinner than other types of displays, as well as being up to eight times brighter. Perhaps the most amazing aspect of this process is the recent advance that has developed the ability to perform electrowetting on paper, thereby opening up the way for truly digital [and disposable] paper. Displays can also be selectively filled to permanently show images when they are turned off. Up until this breakthrough, it was thought that glass was the only media capable of displaying graphic images and video. This technology has the potential to change all types of media including portable digital devices.

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= What's the Big Idea? = The ability to create a disposable digital display medium will dramatically alter the availability of digital content once it is introduced into marketplace. Is has been predicted that everything from newspapers to merchandise labels will use digital paper in the future. Instead of providing static sources of information as printed materials do, these media will be able to update themselves on a continual basis. The ability to do so will mean that information created with this technology will remain relevant for a greater period of time than traditionally published material. This could potentially represent a great cost savings for information centers as they will not be required to update their holdings as frequently as they currently do. Electrowetting technology will lead to an overall increase in the number of users who access information digitally as it will decrease the cost of ereaders. While this is generally a good thing, it will continue to exacerbate the issue of digital lending rights.

**References**
Blain, L. (2010, November 24). //E-ink evolves: full color, video-capable, easy on the eye and cheap enough to be disposable//. Retrieved from http://www.gizmag.com/video-capable-full-colour-e-ink-paper-electrowetting/17041/

Feenstra, J. (2009, May 01). //Electrowetting displays//. Retrieved from []

Fenlon, W. (2009, November 24). //Color e-ink's future may be on disposable paper.// Retrieved from []disposable-paper/1389/

JBlev2. (Producer). (2010). //Breaking news! computers made of paper! disposable kindle! e ink//. [Web Video]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=fdmqFxolVzc

LiquaVista Corporation. (Producer). (2010). //Liquavista electrowetting technology//. [Web Video]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=qOFoVNwOPB4

Springmann, A. (2010, April 23). //Color e-ink: Electrowetting brings color and video to e-book reader screens//. Retrieved from []

University of Cincinnati (2010, November 22). //Electrowetting breakthrough may lead to disposable e-Readers fast enough for video//. ScienceDaily. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101122102804.htm