I never really expected electronic paper to replace real paper anytime in the near future. What Seiko Epson unveiled recently though makes me think it might be sooner than I first guessed. Seiko Epson has recently presented an A4 size 13.4-inch electronic paper; the largest yet after its prior 7.1-inch model (the two prototypes are juxtaposed on the picture at the left). The larger e-paper was showcased at the SID 2008. It boasts a resolution of 3104 × 4128 pixels, a 385ppi definition, a 10:1 contrast ratio, and 40 percent reflectance.

The company's e-papers are made using E Ink Corp's electronic ink and Seiko Epson's low-temperature polycrystal Si-TFT. According to Seiko Epson, this marks the final stages of their efforts into designing e-papers able to replace their real counterparts. The A4 size which is used for a variety of documents allows the company to conduct feasibility studies on whether e-paper is a viable option at this point in time. There are no plans for the commercialization of its electronic paper technology yet--for now, Seiko Epson wants to concentrate on doing market research.