Abstract

New Technologies Focus on Color and Video Rate Advantages

Assessing the technology performance of the 121 e-paper display products showcased at SID 2009, the mainstream electrophoretic display technology is far ahead of new e-paper display technologies in terms of paper white and flexible substrates. The most aggressive company in this regard was E-Ink.

However, this research report has also shown that new e-paper display technologies are ahead of mainstream technologies in terms of color and video rate. The ratio of products at SID 2009 with color and video rate features increased considerably compared to the previous year. The ratio of products with color features increased from 8.3% to 14.9%, while the ratio of products with video rate features increased from 2.3% to 14.0%.

Mainstream technologies are thus still unable to achieve significant breakthroughs in terms of color and video rate features, gradually leading to the emergence of new types of e-paper displays. Feasible technology solutions for color and video rate features are aggressively launched. Qualcomm was the most aggressive in this regard.

MIC forecasts that at SID 2010 paper white and flexible substrate will still be focus areas of mainstream technologies. New types of e-paper display technologies will aggressively push color and video rate features.

E-Reader Application Gradually Becoming More Important for E-paper Display

In 2007, Amazon launched the e-book reader Kindle in the US market, together with the Kindle Store. Kindle users can read and download content through the Kindle Store. This kind of reading service business model attracted much attention among the media and consumers after its launch. Furthermore, green awareness has been growing among consumers in recent years, and market demand for non-paper e-readers has emerged. Several vendors have started to aggressively develop the e-reader device market. Sony has increased investments for Reader Digital Book, iRex launched the iLiad e-reader, Brother launched the SC-100B document viewer, and Foxit launched the eSlick reader.

E-paper display, a key component for e-readers has certainly felt the impact of the potential demand in this new emerging market segment. This can be seen from the fact that among the e-paper displays showcased at SID 2009 28.9% were for e-book reader and e-document reader applications, compared to only 10.1% during SID 2008.

Therefore, due to the aggressive e-reader device development of companies such as Amazon, Sony, iRex, Brother and Foxit, consumers have gradually started to accept non-paper e-reader devices.

Appendix

Research Scope

This report analyzes e-paper display products showcased at the SID Display Week 2009, held in the US city of San Antonio at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center from May 31 to June 5. This analysis sheds more light on technology and product development of participating e-paper display vendors.

Glossary of Terms

List of Companies