A startup named ‘NTERA’ has announcement of a new technology called ‘Nanochromics’ that can create printable, flexible, interactive full-color displays that could ‘revolutionize dynamic comunication’ for several media.
“Printegration” — the process of integrating a display, a sensor, a battery or other electronic components by using successive layered printing steps – will take print to the next level of sophistication, he says. “Once you can add a dynamic element to what we have always considered static media, like newspapers or magazines, you’ve disrupted things and brought new life to them.” As an example, Giacoponello cites experiments in using printed-battery-powered displays in magazine advertising, which is already a reality. “You can see how devices like e-readers are changing the perception of what the nature of printed media is,” says Giacoponello.
They mention the potential of dynamically updating SmartCard badges, shipping labels, and newspapers. Read the full release after the break, and hit their site.
GUTENBERG 3.0: NTERA’s NANOCHROMICS™ DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY TAKES ELECTRONIC DISPLAYS WHERE PRINT HAS NEVER GONE BEFORE
Smart Card, Smart Objects and Smart Packaging are just the beginning of the types of products that printable displays can be applied to; Technology holds the potential to revolutionize how we use and relate to advertising, newspapers and other print media.
PHILADELPHIA, PA (March 25, 2010) – Debuting a technology that enables high resolution, high contrast displays to be printed on virtually any surface, Irish technology startup NTERA is promising to change the way the world interacts with media. NTERA’s technology means the ability to create interactive color-changing displays will revolutionize dynamic communication for promotions, alerts, packaging, security, and even greeting card applications.
Founded at University College Dublin in 1998, the company’s initial mission to commercialize technologies derived from the use of nanomaterials and in 2007 the company was reorganized to focus on the printed electronics sector.
NTERA’s technology and process can be applied to existing products immediately, such as Smart Cards, where NanoChromics™ Displays (NCD™ display’s) single-substrate architecture is compatible with state-of-the-art hot lamination processes, thus keeping manufacturing costs in line. Transit cards and other Debit cards will be able to tell holders how much residual or other stored value is left on the card. Smart Objects include products that can interact with their environment, such as a display that can change color to indicate to observers a particular status, such as a security breach or the authenticity of a ticket, secure document or an environmental control limit, as well as greeting cards, toys and novelty items. Smart packaging will add value to merchandising displays, point of sale displays, and security features for brand and product authentication by adding a dynamic visual component and interactive capability that will engage consumers. The NCD technology has the potential to change our relationship with printed media, including the prospect of reinvigorating putative “sunset” industries such as newspapers and magazines.
“We’ve coined a term that reflects just how game-changing this technology can be,” says Chris Giacoponello, Vice President of Business Development and Marketing for NTERA.
“Printegration” — the process of integrating a display, a sensor, a battery or other electronic components by using successive layered printing steps – will take print to the next level of sophistication, he says. “Once you can add a dynamic element to what we have always considered static media, like newspapers or magazines, you’ve disrupted things and brought new life to them.” As an example, Giacoponello cites experiments in using printed-battery-powered displays in magazine advertising, which is already a reality. “You can see how devices like e-readers are changing the perception of what the nature of printed media is,” says Giacoponello.
“Imagine how that perception will continue to change when the idea of dynamically changing displays become an integral part of the printed page, or of any other product that uses paper to communicate, to authenticate or to package. The printed page will come alive the way that a web page does now.” The concept of dynamic displays made from printed ink will do more than change products – they will create new industries. “Today, it’s considered normal when computer and other product developers outsource their manufacturing to third-party OEMs,” says Dr. Corr. “What NCD technology can do is create the idea of the ‘OEP’ – the ‘Original Equipment Printer,’ who will use existing web, roll and screen printing technologies to assemble products now made with three-dimensional components like batteries.” The NCD display has the ability to take advantage of legacy printing infrastructure and be printed on virtually any surface and be self powered. Its high-contrast look that makes any surface it’s applied to look as good as it would on bright, white paper also gives the NCD an esthetic aspect. Rather than limit the form factor of whatever it’s used with, it will actually give product designers even more creative freedom. “Being able to take advantage of printed electronic inlays, overlays and components on the same substrate as other printed objects gives the product designer a better toolset to merge graphic design with electronic design,” says Corr.
The electronics industry was revolutionized by the commercial introduction of the printed circuit board in the 1950s, which replaced point-to-point wiring and enabled an entirely new generation of consumer electronics products. NTERA’s PE technology is now poised to do the same: to become a positive disruptive influence that will produce benefits across many fields. Dr. Corr notes that simple battery/switch/display systems and RF-powered systems are available for design-in right now, with even more complex designs requiring microcontrollers, sensors and software expected over the course of the next six to 12 months.
The uses for NTERA’s technology are wide and varied and have only begun to be explored. The world changed dramatically when Gutenberg first put words into print and made mass media affordable. NTERA is emulating this with next generation cost effective integrated displays. Today, the printed word is about to regain the dynamic ability to change the world that it once had all over again.
NTERA is the leading developer of advanced, fully printable electrochromic materials enabling display and color change applications for Smart Cards, Smart Packaging, and Smart Objects. NTERA’s NanoChromics™ Ink Systems enable very low cost manufacturing of printed electronic displays on a variety of flexible substrate materials using industry standard printing techniques and equipment. These ultra-thin, sunlight-readable, low power NCD™ displays can be integrated into any number of products, including plastic cards, packaging, smart labels, RFID systems, greeting cards, toys and games, and consumer electronic devices. NTERA is based in suburban Philadelphia, PA USA, with research and development facilities in Dublin, Ireland.
