Transient Paper
So how can we reduce that huge paper consumption ?
The way in which we use paper is changing – from a long-term archival medium, it has become a short-term, convenient User Interface for reading and annotating. Well, there are many best practices that we should adopt – print double-sided, N-pages up, and only when it is justified – and really print what we read and read what we print. And of course, use recycled paper and energy-efficient devices whenever possible.
Mp possibility though are alternatives to paper, such as e-books and e-Paper. But to date, these do not have the affordances of paper, and are somewhat cumbersome to print.
How about a paper that you print the traditional way, but can reuse over and over again ? This is the idea of the transient paper : a paper on which printing erases itself after a period of time – typically 16-24 hours.
The compounds used in this paper can be printed by “beaming” certain wavelengths or the areas to be imaged; it then erases itself through a chemical reaction, and can be printed again.
This type of paper would be ideal for coversheets, web pages, and any of this short-term printing that we all casually do, just because it’s easier to read off a paper page than off a screen.
Hi Francois:
A very interesting post. I guess you know we (the Transient Document team) are actually working to extend the reading life beyond 24 hours.
From your own experience and observations do you think there is a market for the current 24 hour Transient Paper?
Our customer data says ‘no’ but I do have people who say to me ‘I would use the self erasing version’.
Just asking for your perspective.
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