Improv Electronics, subsidiary of Kent Displays, has started marketing a new device that brings back old memories. This device is called 'Boogie Board' and is an LCD based writing tablet. The LCD is a flexible and reflective display that is part of the Reflex branding. The LCD has a bi-stable liquid crystal structure that when pressure is applied, reflects light. This in turn produces an image for the eye to see. The display doesn't need power to keep the image and can retain the image indefinitely until the erase button is pressed. The erase button initiates a electrical impulse to the display which will cause the LCD liquid crystal structure to return to its original state and thus clears the screen. The clear function is powered by a CR2025 / CR2016, 3V, lithium-Ion battery. The battery is not user replaceable, but has a stated 50,000 erase cycles per the manufacturer
Kent Displays states in their white paper "Energy Efficient Flexible Reflex Displays" that the technology has been touted by them for 10 years. With new advances in their production, they were able to lower the cost of the display. The Boogie Board sells currently for $30.00. It comes with the writing tablet, telescoping stylus and cleaning cloth.
The unit is 8.8 x 5.6 inches in size, 1/8 inch thick and weighs 4.2 ounces. The unit is extremely thin and can be easily held and written on. The surface, being pressure sensitive, will give a darker line with increased pressure from the stylus. The text is a whitish green and the tablet itself is black. It is very similar to writing on a black-board.
Previously I had mentioned that this device brings back old memories. Memories of Etch-a-Sketch and Magna-doodle, but with a techno-twist. The device doesn't let you erase a portion of the screen. Pressing the erase button will clear the entire board.
I asked several people what their thought on this item is and most said that that since it lacks a way of saving the image, it is not much use to them. Others said that it would be a great addition to their desk as a way of jotting down notes or reminders. Another Blogger had written that the manufacturer is looking to release a higher level model with the ability to save to a USB flash drive. This would be quite cool and mostly if the targeted price they stated was $50.00.
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The picture on the right shows just how thin the Boogie Board is. It is almost half as thick as a standard ball point pen. The thickest part is the top when the erase electronics and battery are housed.
Overall the unit works as designed. In bright light the text is more easily read because of the reflective nature of the LCD. The stylus that comes with the unit produces a fatter line than I would like. Using the stylus from my PDA gave a little better results with a more fine line.
The case of the unit is a hard plastic which has some give to it. The LCD display itself has a plastic substrate which will not be damaged when flexed. Slightly peeling back the upper lip where the erase electronics, one can see the battery. It cannot be accessed without prying off the upper plastic, which I may attempt in the future, but don't want to break it right now. It would be nice to see if the battery is soldered on or is replaceable. With some soldering skills, an external battery pack may be fashioned, but given the 50,000 erase cycles, it may take up to 13 years at 10 erases per day. I've already exceeded that daily quota so far. The electronics are not sealed from water intrusion, so don't submerge the top of the unit. The tablet surface itself appears to be splash proof.
The display can be used outdoors, but cannot be left for extended period of time in bright light since the cholesteric liquid crystal display (ChLCD) will change the properties. Kent Displays does have a similar display that can be 'written to' using a UV light for a semi-permanent display for security badges, price labels, etc. I may test the UV sensitivity of the Boogie Board in the future.
This device has much potential and if a way of saving the data written can be provided, the unit sold at a reasonable cost and have it the size of a standard piece of paper, this will be a blockbuster.
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