The University of Cambridge has developed a new flexible electronic screen. Targeted at commuters, this “digital newspaper” is believed to be the cure for environmentally destructive, landfill filling, paper publications worldwide.
Created to compete with the overpriced silicon based “Amazon Kindle”, and numerous expensive “tablet computers”, this product is made of cheap plastic. 
This screen will allow readers to subscribe to their various publications and download them straight into the device for a reasonable monthly fee comparable to a standard newspaper subscription.
This seems like a great idea with wonderful intentions but I’m forced to wonder if it is merely a gimmick that will pass on through the ranks of the wealthy and never make it to widespread distribution. At $300, the average consumer will be forced to stay away from this purchase, (aside from a few technogeeks), and once again we are slaves to the people with money.
At the moment, there are concerns about the durability of the product, and it is not being released yet due to these concerns. It seems people want to be able to “roll it up and dump it in their bag” I guess these are the people who wait until the last minute to prepare themselves for their train stop and then run through the train hollering, “Outta my way! This is my stop!” This strikes me as a little odd that this would hold up production, as one of the main “pros” of this device is supposed to be its durability. If you drop it on the subway, it’ll be ok. If you drop your laptop, maybe not so much.
All in all this seems like an interesting idea, and I’m sure it’ll satisfy the rich, trend junkies, but the problem is; everyone already owns a laptop, or a crackberry, or an iPhone so I just don’t see people shelling out the cash for a “gimmick”
Newspapers have way to many uses. What will people line their cat boxes with? How will people wrap their dishes and breakables while moving?
This is a gimmick for sure!
By: lipbat7845 on August 4, 2009
at 10:16 am
For the peole who still read the newspaper, i’t about sitting down at a coffee bar or on they’re front porch enjoying a fresh cup of whatever. Having computer defeats the purpose. furthermore newspapers are a great recyling resource for many companies to package their products.
http://fiestamovement.com/agents/view/58
By: agent58 on August 4, 2009
at 10:31 am
How will this not create more waste? Newspapers are easily reused and recycled. This has little opportunities for reuse and would be much more costly and difficult to recycle.
By: Callie on August 4, 2009
at 10:38 am
I recall reading that in a few years we will have really flexible displays (bendable and lightweight) that could be purposed for newspapers. And, it should be low-cost, maybe less than $50 and a monthly fee or something. I hope it happens…
By: Vince Vinacelli on August 4, 2009
at 10:46 am
I agree that it’s just a gimmick. At $300 it’s just not cost effective and any modern cell phone with internet capabilities allows one to access a myriad of online news sites for FREE.
By: Judge Pow3rs on August 4, 2009
at 10:49 am
agent58
Thanks for the comment. I fully agree with you! People LOVE their newspapers. However, I think that’s the point of this thing. It resembles a newspaper in it’s feel, but draws in the techno geeks. It’s not like holding a bulky computer. Everyone knows that newspaper sales are WAAAAAY down. People are getting away from newpaper subscriptions and getting their news by other means, mainly, the internet. This is a way for the press to get their subscriptions back and draw people away from yahoo and google.
I don’t know about your “recycling resource” point however. If something creates waste that must be dealt with, in any fashion, it is not a good thing. As soon as people start viewing waste (in any format) as a resource, it becomes marketable. All this will cause is corporations that thrive in creating more and more “useful” trash.
Callie,
Lets not forget that the first “r” is reduce. Only after this, is reuse and recycle a beneficial idea.
Just because something is easier to recycle, doesn’t make it a “good” trash. The goal is to eliminate it as much as possible.
Recycling isn’t the wonderful thing everyone thinks it is!
Ask Remi what he thinks
By: ponch58 on August 4, 2009
at 10:59 am
hmmm. . . .I don’t agree with the “gimmick” label. Imagine they took everything that your macferry could do and slammed it down onto these things. You could basically have a full working computer that you could roll out on your lap. full sized keyboard and screen- it would be incredibly useful to you, on the go, technocrappers. Newspaper is just the logical starting place for this technology.
But i very much agree with your environmental concerns. Right now, i guarantee, scientists are working on ways to make the device cheaper, not more durable, just cheaper. If you could buy a new one for $50 every 3 months youre a much more valuable customer than someone who buys a durable product and holds onto it for years/decades.
5-10 years these things are going to be piled sky high into landfills.
By: remistevens on August 14, 2009
at 8:36 am
Scrap em and make’m into anti riot bullets.
“Excuse me madam, we are from the boy scouts. Do you have any used flexible electronic screens you want to get rid of?”
By: exuvia on September 1, 2009
at 3:15 pm
Hey, Marcus
I have a suggestion for your blog profile. Your Blog ID is not yet an active link when you post a comment on other peoples blogs. Notice how Canada’s most active blogger has his ID highlighted and active in all his comments. That means his blog is one click away.
Ask him when you see him the next time at band practice.
see you when you get up from your Gulliver struggle against the ants in your house.
Best
Exuvia
By: exuvia on September 15, 2009
at 3:43 pm
Thanks Exuvia,
Not sure why that happened. I’ll have to fix it…any idea how? It used to work.
By: ponch58 on September 17, 2009
at 9:50 pm
That was as of Aug 14th. Ponch58 said
By: exuvia on September 15, 2009
at 3:53 pm
You are up and running…
Any comment you make on another blog is now a path back to your site for others to follow. Its a breeze and spontaneous.
I just arrived via your signature.
By: exuvia on September 18, 2009
at 8:52 am