WEARABLES
Bridging the gap in the wearables industry
Data is one of the fundamental drivers of advancement in any field, from medicine to sports to our work and hobbies. Recent technology has given access to ever more in-depth data which can be interpreted and used more easily than ever before. This data often reaches us in a simple but widespread way: through the display of our mobile phones.
Combining sensors with thin, flexible and energy-efficient e-paper displays can seamlessly integrate the display of visual digital data on wearable items such as hospital wristbands as shown in the picture. Image source: Ynvisible
Our smartphones have become an integral part of our lives, informing us about our tasks, our health, the weather, keeping us up to date and more. Such data about our performance, calorie consumption or sleep quality is also made available through wearables such as smart watches and fitness trackers, which have seen an increasing adoption rate in later years. Between 2019 and 2023, for example, the number of wrist wearable devices was predicted to rise from 66.5 million units to 105.3 million.
The smart devices we carry with us can significantly enhance many aspects of our lives. However, some data, such as skin electrolyte levels or moisture, cannot be measured by a phone or watch. Many situations require wearable devices that have to be as thin and flexible as possible, or solutions that are more sustainable and/or cost effective. Wearable devices are already here, but they have some limitations in terms of form factor and battery life: they are additional devices that need to be carried, charged and maintained by the user. So there’s definitely more room for innovation in the wearables space. Combining sensors with thin, flexible and energy-efficient e-paper displays can seamlessly integrate the display of visual digital data on everyday wearable items, from apparel to smart bandages, to hospital and event wristbands. The use of thin and flexible printed electronic components can bridge the gap between existing hardware and new user needs. Below, we delve into three potential use cases for e-paper-based wearable devices.
In sports and wellness
The use of e-paper displays combined with sensors that monitor temperature, muscle activity, fatigue, electrolyte or hydration levels and/or exposure to UV or hazardous gases can enable the development of new solutions that can be integrated into slim products such as wristbands, armbands or even directly into sports clothing. Imagine running shoes that track and display the number of steps you’ve taken, a T-shirt that indicates when it’s time for a rest during your workout, or a patch that advises when you’ve spent too much time in the sun.
The integration of wearables with other smart textiles could lead to clothing that not only monitors health-related metrics but also adapts to changing conditions in real time. This new type of tracking methods may turn a piece of clothing or training gear into a tech wearable, which could be vital in sports where, for example, aerodynamics may be so important that another, less thin type of wearable would negatively impact performance.
In medicine
A product as simple and small as a patch can become a digital wearable when sensors are combined with a flexible e-paper display. This use case could be particularly relevant, for example in the management of chronic wounds, allowing caregivers to easily monitor the status of the wound and change the bandage only when necessary. Another medical related example is adult diapers which can now integrate a thin, disposable display and a sensor that tracks the skin’s pH or potential rashes. Displaying real-time data can alert the patient or healthcare provider, preventing pain and potential injury. In hospitals, patients are currently given paper wristbands on admission that place them in a certain risk category. However, these wristbands can’t be easily updated and don’t provide any additional information about the patient or care. Disposable digital wristbands that monitor, for example, how long a patient has been waiting since admission can provide caregivers with important information. In addition to the cost-effectiveness of disposability, these smart wristbands need to be very thin and comfortable for the patient, which can be achieved with printed, flexible, thin components.
In event management
Looking at a completely different industry, event management, we see e-paper-based wearables as having huge potential to improve both the organisation and the attendee experience. Thin, flexible wearables can take the form of badges or wristbands that display information such as name, ticket type, access levels, schedules or notifications. They can be used to engage with participants or help them interact each other by displaying relevant information. Replacing traditional printed tickets, paper access badges or wristbands with a digital, e-paper-based wearable can also have important environmental benefits, as they can be reused for multiple events.
A new kind of wearables
The examples described above and many more make the case for a new kind of wearables: wearables that are closer to us and seamlessly integrated into our everyday lives. The use of thin and flexible e-paper enables the production and integration of wearables into existing products, such as our clothes, or the development of entirely new products that are more appropriate, sustainable and/or comfortable. Perhaps one of the most important advantages of e-paper displays is their low energy consumption compared to other display technologies such as LCD or This means that e-paper based wearable devices don’t need to be recharged as often as more conventional devices. In fact, in some applications they don’t even need a battery, making them not only very low power, but also slim and lightweight. It is important to note that, despite their enormous potential and benefits, there are still some areas that require further research and development for printed, thin, flexible components to form the basis of a new generation of wearables, such as durability in extreme conditions or integration with other software and hardware technologies.
The future is data-driven
E-paper-based wearables represent a different approach to traditional wearables, offering a blend of functionality, convenience and efficiency. As technology continues to evolve, these devices are set to play a crucial role in enhancing performance, improving user experience and unlocking unseen functionalities. Of course, these devices can’t perform as many or as complex tasks as other conventional, high end electronic devices, but they can outperform them for certain functions and applications. That’s why we believe the future will bring a mix of different types of wearables that are data-driven and have a strong focus on customisation, serving our needs better than ever before.
THE AUTHOR Ramin Heydarpour is an executive with over 30 years of experience in product development and innovation for packaging, flexible electronics, brand identification and decoration. He is currently the CEO and Chairman of Ynvisible Interactive Inc, a company that develops, manufactures and commercialises printed e-paper displays for various applications and markets. Heydarpour holds several patents and has a track record of inventing and developing new products in a wide range of applications such as liquid packaging, RFID tags and thermal transfer labels. He is passionate about translating unmet market needs into solutions and building effective organisations and talent.
ABOUT YNVISIBLE Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, Ynvisible was founded in 2010 and is a publicly traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Its team of 35 employees, working either from one of its offices in Canada, Portugal, Germany, Sweden or remotely, serve customers around the world. Ynvisible is disrupting the low-cost and ultra-low-power display industry by leveraging the latest advantages in sustainable electronics and roll-to-roll printing production. The company’s printed e-paper displays are ideal for low power and cost-sensitive applications such as digital signage, smart monitoring labels for supply chain and logistics, indicators for medical and diagnostics and retail labels and signage. Ynvisible has the experience, know-how and intellectual property in electrochromic materials, inks and systems and offers a mix of services, materials and to brand owners developing smart objects and IoT products. www.ynvisible.com