It's no secret that I love E Ink devices. I read most of my books on them, use them for most of my notetaking, and love it when I see new devices coming out with new uses for E Ink. The one thing that's been holding the technology back from general computing use is the slow refresh rate, but that's changing as newer panel types are able to refresh at up to 40Hz, and there are full-color options now, too.
It's not quite up to LCD or OLED for refresh rates or color accuracy, but it's getting there. Panel sizes are improving to the point where they can be a viable alternative for desktop monitors for productivity tasks. E Ink isn't quite there for video watching or gaming, but there are better panel types more suited to those tasks anyway. But as a main display for general office tasks? I could see E Ink taking off if prices come down, and here's why.
It's fairly well established that blue light, including the blue wavelengths from traditional monitors, is harmful to our retinas. While this might not be a significant effect at any one time, with the average adult spending 13 hours a day looking at a screen (via Nielsen), any minor effect adds up. E Ink devices without a front light don't emit any blue light at all, and many front-lit options have lights that put out reduced blue light compared to LCDs.That makes E Ink instantly less stressful for our eyes, and other studies have shown that we blink more often when looking at E Ink compared to LCD or other backlit display types. E Ink was designed to be looked at for longer periods of time, as a digital replacement for paper. With high PPI values on many screens, it's comparable to LCD or OLED for crispness, and the 10:1 or 11:1 contrast level of E Ink is also easier on our eyes.
Protect your eyes from strain and fatigue and improve your sleep cycle
Most monitor panel types, whether glossy or matte, have some level of glare. This makes them a literal headache for many users, including myself. The effects range from mild distraction to discomfort to not being able to look at the monitor at all. Even controlling the ambient light level in the room isn't always enough to reduce the glare, and the combined brightness of glare and the panel can lead to eye strain and migraines. E Ink doesn't have the same issues with glare, even in full sunlight, making it easier to use all day.
Being energy-conscious while performing computing tasks is important, not just for your utility bills, but also for the environment. Our screens are on for increasing periods of time, and hybrid work arrangements have blurred the lines between work and leisure. The picture is more stark in an enterprise setting, where you might have hundreds or thousands of computers on at any one time.
E Ink might be able to reduce our overall energy usage, as it only needs power when refreshing the screen. It does use slightly more than other panel types for refresh, but it refreshes far less often and uses tricks like localized refresh to reduce the overall amount of power used. Plus, it doesn't need any power to show a static image, so you can read a full page of text before needing to scroll and trigger a refresh.
Imagine a laptop battery life that could last multiple days without needing to be recharged
That means your PC setup can be more power efficient when working, and you could even leave your monitor on overnight without worrying about power usage. In a corporate environment, that would mean the log-on screen would be shown overnight, ready for use the next day. Plus, it'll put less strain on the power grid.
For mobile computing devices like laptops, E Ink could offer even greater power savings when combined with the latest crop of ultra-efficient CPUs. Imagine a laptop battery life that could last multiple days without needing to be recharged. This would enable you to work wherever you want without needing to be near an outlet.
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I love my QD-OLED ultrawide, but there are parts of the day when it's almost painful to use because of the changing ambient light levels in my office. I've moved my desk to every place it fits, and the problem is still there. So, it seems the only option is to live in a perpetually dark cave with blackout blinds. However, that has negative effects on my mental health, and I quite like being able to see sunlight while it's available, especially in the winter months.
Plus, if the ambient light levels increase enough, especially during the summer, I have to turn the brightness up to uncomfortable levels. And that's without going outside, which is quite difficult. I quite like working in a slightly shaded woodland or outdoor café. However, that's difficult without turning the backlight levels up high, and sometimes, it isn't possible at all if the laptop's display has a low maximum brightness.
E Ink monitors and similar panel types that use reflected or front-lit light don't suffer from the same ambient light issues. Bright sunlight makes them easier to see, and reflected light is less straining on the eyes, making it less irritating. When the light levels are lower, a low-power front light is all that's needed.
Modern computing is full of distractions, from notifications that pop up and demand our attention to overflowing email inboxes. Whether you do your computing on Windows 11 or on macOS, both operating systems have new Focus modes designed to reduce distractions for set time periods, helping us to get more work done. But for some people, simply having a colorful screen is distracting, with certain visual elements catching their eye instead of the work that they're supposed to be completing.
The monochrome or muted colors of E Ink help reduce that additional level of distraction. When everything is equally interesting, it's easier to focus on work. Imagine browsing the Internet for research without your attention being yanked around by ads or other bright-colored sections. Or imagine being able to put mental distance between your work and your play by using an E Ink monitor for work tasks and a vibrant monitor for gaming.
The Boox Tab Ultra is the most capable E Ink tablet on the market, but it's priced so close to an iPad Air that it will be a tough sell for most.
I would love to replace the monitor I use primarily for work with an E Ink display. The only problem is that I'd want an ultrawide form factor, while all the larger E Ink displays so far have had more traditional aspect ratios. Other than that, the benefits of E Ink, like reduced glare and a lack of blue light that causes eye strain, are compelling, and the refresh rates are now high enough for daily computing use. I'd love to see more major brands get involved with using E Ink panels, even if they still come with a premium price tag. OLED has shown there is a place in the market for premium monitors that have easily defined benefits for the user. E Ink might have a different set of benefits, but it's just as easy to define, and I hope to see it in more computing setups in the near future.
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