Paper Thin Computer Debuts at CES

The word's first flexible computer made of paper has been unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The device comes from developers at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and a company called Plastic Logic who say it represents the future of desk-top computing.

Published

4 months ago

Categories

Technology

Topics

Future Tech

People

Mike Banach, Aneesh Tarun

Places

United States of America, Las Vegas

Companies

Plastic Logic

Transcript

Imagine a computer paper-thin and flexible... The technology behind that sci-fi vision made it's debut at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, when Plastic Logic, unveiled a prototype of its, "PaperTab" tablet. The company, which specializes is polymer transistors and plastic electronics, has teamed up with Ontario's Queen's University research team in creating the futuristic paper. Research manager Mike Banach explains. SOUNDBITE Mike Banach, Plastic Logic research manager, saying (English): "What we are really trying to show is a desk top scenario where you have multiple displays on the desktop, where you will be able to transfer the information between the displays using different interfaces, different sensor technology." The PaperTab tablet looks and feels like a plastic sheet of paper. The tablet, though, is fully interactive and is powered by an Intel Processor. Queen's University researcher Aneesh Tarun, demonstrates how it works. SOUNDBITE Aneesh Tarun, "I have my e-mail inbox here and I want to be able to read my e-mail while also wanting to keep an eye out for new e-mails. I can do that by simply taking this piece of paper and tapping it and picking up the e-mail that I just got. Now, I want to reply to this person by sending them a photo. First, I just bend to reply and then I pick up the photo that I have and I just tap it here and it gets attached. Now, I just bend it and the e-mail gets sent. It is as simple as that." PaperTabs can easily be tossed around on a desk while providing a magazine-like reading experience. And they are re-usable. Before everyone gets too excited, the paper tablet is still 5 to 10 years away from finding its way into your hands.