A team of computer scientists at Saarland University in Germany have developed PrintScreen, a technology that could allow regular people to print their own custom displays including touchscreens. Using little more than a regular inkjet printer in conjunction with a special ink, a simple DIY thin-film electroluminescence display can be printed out from a digital template using a regular old program like Microsoft Word or PowerPoint.
While printing out a regular near-HD display is neat in itself, this could be just the beginning. The PrintScreen method could eventually make use of other materials such as metal, plastic or wood. Touch-sensitive displays are also on the horizon.
The DIY printed screens could be embedded in everything from furniture to clothing.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- DIY Custom Displays
- PrintScreen technology enables regular people to print their own custom displays using a regular inkjet printer.
- Innovative Printing Materials
- PrintScreen method opens up opportunities to print displays on materials like metal, plastic, or wood.
- Touch-sensitive DIY Displays
- PrintScreen technology could lead to the development of touch-sensitive printed displays.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Consumer Electronics
- The DIY custom display trend presents disruptive innovation opportunities in the consumer electronics industry.
- Printing and Publishing
- The innovative printing materials trend creates disruptive innovation opportunities in the printing and publishing industry.
- Fashion and Home Decor
- The touch-sensitive DIY display trend offers disruptive innovation opportunities in the fashion and home decor industry.
