Unique Display Technology That Presents Paper-like Quality: E Ink Helps Consumers Identify Authentic "Electronic Paper"

Jiangsu, July 22, 2025 / Xinhua News Agency / -- As the trend of sustainability and eye protection develops, the term "electronic paper" or "inkless screen" has become increasingly popular in our daily lives. From electronic paper readers to retail store price tags, and outdoor advertising billboards, it has become a hot keyword. Among various products that emphasize "paper-like" and "eye-protective" features, E Ink's electrophoretic electronic paper is the only technology that can faithfully present the "look like paper, write like paper, feel like paper" display.

E Ink, the global leader in electronic paper, believes that true electronic paper display technology should possess high readability, reflective display, no backlight, low power consumption, and be able to retain images for a long time without electricity. These features are the core of E Ink's technology, which has enabled it to stand out among many display technologies.

E Ink will assist terminal consumers and business operators in accurately and rapidly identifying E Ink electronic paper technology, and together with ecological partners, establish a clearer brand identity to protect consumer rights.

Technological spirit: making digital reading like paper

The electronic paper technology was first born at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Laboratory by the E Ink team. E Ink's electrophoretic electronic paper uses micro-particles that move under electric fields to display images resembling printing, presenting a true and realistic image. This innovative technology not only won MIT's award for "one of the 100 most influential inventions" but also saw one of its inventors, Professor Joseph Jacobson, inducted into the US National Inventors Hall of Fame as the "father of digital paper" in 2016.

From a structural perspective, E Ink's electronic paper module consists of an electronic paper film and a TFT driving backplate. The particles in the film can move precisely to form a stable image on the display surface. Its unique bistable feature allows it to maintain images for a long time without consuming energy, further reducing power consumption.

In comparison, other display technologies like reflective liquid crystal (RLCD) and cholesterol liquid crystal (ChLCD) are still based on liquid-crystal technology, which has complex module structures, requires multiple optical components (such as backlight and polarizing plates), and suffers from narrow viewing angles, color instability, and other issues.

Imaging principle: simulating oil-based printing and handwriting

E Ink's electronic paper uses pigment particles to simulate oil-based printing, presenting a stable image that is not affected by viewing angles, similar to colored printing on paper. The colors of the electronic paper are formed through location and arrangement of particles, just like CMYK printing. This "physical particle imaging" method differs from LCD technologies' optical manipulation, which does not rely on polarization or filter components and is the only technology that can achieve "digital printing".

Humanized interface: eye-friendly, near-180-degree wide viewing angle

In addition, E Ink's electronic paper emits no light, flickers, or blue light, with extremely low eye strain, providing a comfortable reading experience similar to that of real paper. Its near-180-degree wide viewing angle also ensures that the image is clear and visible from all angles, making it natural for reading, writing, or displaying.

E Ink emphasizes that true electronic paper is not just about reflective display technology but requires a holistic approach that closely mimics human familiarity with paper-like interfaces. In the products of electronic paper digital billboards,

multiple brands have positioned E Ink as "0-watt" technology, assigning terminal devices the option to wirelessly and flexibly move without consuming power, providing an experience similar to real paper but exceeding it.

E Ink will continue to focus on developing electrophoretic electronic paper technology, committed to providing more realistic, healthier, and sustainable digital information solutions for consumers when they choose genuine E Ink electronic paper, which is a human-centered display technology.