Images Dated 3rd February 2003

Electronic ink sign

Electronic ink sign. Close-up of a letter in a sign printed with electronic ink. Materials coated in this ink can have text downloaded onto them electronically. The digital nature of the ink allows the text to be changed so a book, for example, can hold many titles. The ink consists of tiny transparent spheres containing microscopic white balls and a blue dye. When an electric current is applied, the balls, or microcapsules, rise up through the blue dye and become visible, or sink. By controlling where they rise and where they sink, a message can be formed. The ink was developed by Joseph Jacobson at MIT, USA. The sign was made by E Ink, a company Jacobson co-founded

© VOLKER STEGER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Dr Joseph Jacobson

Joseph Jacobson. Portrait of Dr Joseph Jacobson, one of the developers of electronic ink. Paper coated in this ink can have text downloaded onto it electronically. The digital nature of the ink allows text to be changed so one book can carry many titles. The idea involves coating a sheet with tiny transparent spheres containing minute balls and a dye. When an electric current is applied, the balls, or microcapsules, may rise upwards through the dye and become visible, or sink. By controlling where they rise and sink, text can be created. Jacobson, the Assistant Professor of Media Arts and Sciences at MIT, USA, co-founded E Ink, the company developing this ink

© VOLKER STEGER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY