Just how is the e-paper market set to reach £4.2 billion by 2018?

‘Tis true, according to a new report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc. Due to its increased use in everything from electronic shelf labels, e-textbooks, e-magazines, e-newspapers, mobile phones, signage, smart cards and credit cards to clothes – on top of the growing e-book and e-reader market itself – the e-paper market will reach a whopping £4.2 billion in only six years.

If you don’t know what e-paper is, where have you been? Established through Amazon’s Kindle and other e-readers, e-paper is more than just your usual display. Designed to look like ordinary ink on paper, e-paper actually reflects light – just like normal paper does. This makes it a whole lot easier to read in daylight.

It’s even finding its way into home appliances and medical devices, and with the debate raging about which gadget might be the one to actually replace paper, this is a very hot topic.

The next stage of the e-paper revolution is the rise of flexible e-paper: featuring an ultra-thin form factor, covered with a metal foil to provide unmatched lightweight and flexibility (it’s all in the name), flexible e-paper is intended to help e-paper branch out into a more diverse range of non-battery operated items.

A prototype of a snowboard with e-paper technology features a screen that displays time, speed, temperature, location, weather forecast, direction, and even enables the users to access email using Bluetooth. The display, powered by a piezoelectric generator embedded within the board, is activated by stomping, riding, or bending the board.

Other innovative applications include a music stand featuring electronic sheet music and even e-paper integrated with a cutting board that brings up recipes. With many companies’ inking deals related to research and innovation of this new technology, flexible e-paper is expected to replace paper books as well as the e-readers we know and love.

Another prototype floating around in the ether of the near-future is the e-paper phone, believe it or not – meet PaperPhone, as thick as a conference badge. It can be written on, makes calls, plays music and even displays e-books, but the biggest difference between it and your standard smartphone is that you operate it by bending. If that sounds confusing, see it in action:

While all of these things are still prototypes, Cambridge company Plastic Logic have also been demoing video playback on e-paper – so this is definitely one to keep your eye on.