By Rei Vilo
Being able to send simple one-way messages to friends or family to remind them about important events is really useful. But we are not talking about sticking a post-it on the fridge and hoping for the best. Messaging systems have come a long way since the invention of the famous sticky note over 40 years ago. There are situations where a low-power remote messaging display, which can be wirelessly updated, can be a lifeline for providing daily reminders. E-paper displays (EPDs) are based on e-ink technology. Their bi-stable, sunlight-readable screens make them the perfect unobtrusive choice for displaying information.
Assisting the elderly to live independently
Senior citizens who wish to maintain an independent lifestyle are one key group who would benefit greatly from a remote display messaging system. Helping the elderly to live independently is a challenge in many Western societies struggling with aging populations. Age-related forgetfulness means that senior citizens are often reliant on family members or care-givers to prompt them to do things. A straightforward push messaging system lets caregivers send reminders to take medication or attend hospital appointments. It could also remind the elderly person of upcoming family birthdays or that a visitor is expected the next day. These simple reminders help the person feel in control of their life, rather than confused or upset by forgetfulness.
Other use cases for EPDs
E-paper displays are extremely versatile, and there is also scope for this type of technology to be applied to many other use cases. In an office environment, desk-mounted messaging units could show upcoming meetings, CEO news updates, or motivational messages. A wall-mounted unit outside a meeting room could give information on when the room is booked or available and what equipment is provided inside. In a restaurant, an EPD screen can display daily specials or menus and be updated wirelessly at any time.
Elements of a simple messaging system
The messaging system uses two elements in its setup: firstly, a remote unit with an e-paper displays which receives and displays text and/or images. The hardware contains an integrated clock enabling the date and time to be updated. Secondly, the remote unit is supported by a cloud-based back-end which receives the message data. It then authenticates and timestamps the data before sending it wirelessly to the remote unit.
Benefits of using EPDs in remote messaging systems
EPDs offer strong resilience to sunlight and superior readability both outdoors and indoors. The advanced units from Pervasive Displays give a high contrast output with 130DPI resolution. The addition of red or yellow enables three-color displays. In particular, black-white-red screens are effective at drawing attention to key messages. E-paper is less intrusive than TFT or STN displays — no flickering, no emitted light. This makes EPDs well-suited and discreet for remote messaging. The screen sits quietly in the background, available whenever someone glances at it.
A huge plus point for e-paper is that the technology is bi-stable. The screen only needs power when the image is first rendered — after that, it stays unchanged until new data arrives. This makes e-paper ideal for remote, battery-powered applications. Operation continues even if power to the back-end is interrupted after the message is received. The remote unit keeps displaying the message until power is restored and new data arrives. It then compares the new data with what is stored in non-volatile memory and updates accordingly.
Designing with EXT3 Kit Gen 3
Pervasive Displays launched its Extension Kit Gen.3 (EXT3) board in 2021. Designers can use this along with any e-paper display module from Pervasive Displays to create a simple messaging unit. Click here to find out more.