World's first flexible TFT-SRAM from Epson

HONG KONG: Seiko Epson Corporation announced that it has developed flexible TFT-SRAM (16kbit), the first in the world.

The Tokyo-based company expects TFT-SRAM to be the key component for small, light and flexible devices in the near future itself.

Meanwhile, Epson is set to reposition itself as an imaging company.

It had in April restated its mission statement to Exceed Your Vision as part of its brand repositioning efforts.

"Delivering more than customer expectation is what we focus on," said Toshio Kimura, executive vice-president & CFO, Seiko Epson at the Epson Business & Technology Forum-2005 here.

The Forum was organized to showcase future technologies and applications that would drive the company to a cross-section of media representatives from across South-east Asia.

Talking at the Forum, Kimura outlined his company's 3i strategy. He said the company would expand its portfolio and reach in three product domains — printers, projectors and displays.

An ultra-thin Electro Phoretic Display (EPD) watch that could be worn like a wrap-around on the wrist was on display at the Forum. Epson holding company Seiko would commercialize the EPD watch.

Flexible wall displays, smart cards, RFID tags also were on display, promoting the theme light, compact and flexible.

Epson sees a big opportunity in digital TV printing, following the boom in digital content. The company has suggested a business model that would enable users to print information from TVs as and when required.

However, this involves bringing the broadcaster, TV companies and advertisers together. A global standards platform for digital TV printing should also be set up.

"But is it not a long time away," said Seiichi Hirano, director & chief executive of the Imaging & Information Products Operation Division, Seiko Epson Corp.

He hopes this to materialize in a couple of years.

The company had developed and launched the PM-D 1000 TV printer in Japan last year. Users can connect their digital cameras to television sets to print images using this printer.

Epson's Ultra Chrome K3 ink provides a wider range of colours, improved black density and gradation in dark areas. The ink can also preserve the quality of images for 80 years.

(The author was hosted in Hong Kong by Epson)