How about an inkless printer for your cell phone?
From text messages to images and calendar events, as cool as it is to have all your info stored in a gadget at the tip of your finger, there's something classic about holding a print version too.
At the Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas, Polaroid revealed its portable, inkless printer that can be used with small devices like cell phones and digital cameras. The printers, about the size of a deck of cards, use thermal printing techniques on special paper.
It's expected to hit the North American market later in 2008 and retail for about $150.
A Canadian company also revealed a mobile printer. Slightly pricier at $300, the Printstik from Planon Systems Solutions doesn't print in colour, but it's remarkable light for an 8 by 11 inch printer, weighing under 2 lbs.
Both printers connect via USB or Bluetooth.
A list of other mobile phone printers can be seen here. So far my favourite is still the Zink 2 (zero ink) which is featured in the gallery.
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Inkless Printing
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop inkless printing technology that is even more compact and affordable for mobile devices.
- Portable Printers
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create portable printers that can seamlessly integrate with multiple electronic devices and offer high-quality prints on the go.
- Wireless Printing
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Invent wireless printing technology that eliminates the need for USB or Bluetooth connections, making it more convenient and accessible.
Sectors Adopting This
- Printing and Imaging
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Revolutionize the printing and imaging industry by developing advanced, inkless printing solutions for various devices.
- Mobile Technology
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore opportunities within the mobile technology industry by creating innovative products that enhance the printing capabilities of smartphones and digital cameras.
- Consumer Electronics
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Drive innovation in the consumer electronics industry by introducing compact and portable printers that offer seamless connectivity and high-quality prints.
