|
Art Technology Introduces New E Ink-based Watches
Hong Kong; May 2009. Hoping to return some cachet to the product category of digital watches, Art Technology Ltd. has created a new watch line that uses technology from E Ink. The new Phosphor brand watches feature a curved face and a digital ink display that is both high-contrast and highly stylized. "The problem with digital watches is that they've become commoditized," says Donald Brewer, CEO of Art Technology. Many digital watches have a low perceived value, he continues, and the Phosphor watches, which will retail starting at $175, are designed to counteract that trend.
E Ink, which is widely known as the base technology for a variety of e-books, is also ideally suited to watches, according to Sri Peruvemba, vice president of marketing for E Ink. "It has a wide viewing angle, and the look of paper," he says. The plastic display is also particularly rugged, he notes.
The E Ink Vizplex Imaging Film on which the watch is based offers the following benefits:
*Ultra High Contrast: The display is made up of pure black and pure white particles, which allow the same contrast as found on a printed page and more contrast than a conventional LCD panel. It can be easily read in either bright sunlight or dimly lit environments.
*Low Power Consumption: Since the display technology is reflective, no backlighting is needed. The display also requires no power to maintain an image. For these reasons, battery life can be extended.
*Wide Viewing Angle: With a viewing cone of 180 degrees, the electrophoretic technology overcomes the disadvantages of conventional displays when it comes to off-axis viewing. Together with its high contrast, it allows the user to read the time at a glance from any angle.
Photo: The time is 9:59, according to this Phosphor watch with a black leather band. Image courtesy Art Technology Ltd.
|
