While everything is going electronic, sometimes you just need a hard copy.
Whether you’re printing handouts for a meeting or you proof-read your own work better in hard copy form, a new printing technology is just around the corner. The question is, however, will it be functional enough to catch on?
What would you think if you could print using water instead of ink?
Before you answer, let me tell you exactly how it works.
Rewrite-able Paper and Water for Ink
Is this too good to be true?
Almost.
While this new printing technology is being developed, it’s never going to replace traditional ink printing. With the understanding that 40% of office documents are used only once, Chinese researchers are developing a rewrite-able paper that uses water to print, but disappears after 22-hours. Researchers have found they can use the same sheet of paper up to 50 times. So this not only saves resources in the sense of ink use, but also paper consumption, too.
“They’ve run initial safety tests on the water-reactive dyes and found them to be in the low toxicity range. Extended exposure tests with mice are now underway.”
So this may be just around the corner!
Is this the future of office printing?
Would this be useful in a church office?
[via Gizmodo Australia]
Darryl Schoeman says
This is absolutely amazing!!! Can you imagine the applications? Besides proof reading, which I do better printed myself, think about Sunday morning sermon manuscripts. I know everyone is into the whole tablet thing, but nothing beats a printed hard copy in your hand when technology fails. Thanks for sharing.
Eric Dye says
I know, right!?!
I could see this TOTALLY replacing conventional printers at some point or at least being an option that all of them have.