Example research essay topic: New Electronic Technologies Aiding In Communication – 1,045 words

Communication and Technology in todays society
have been changing immensely with the various
improvements and unveilings of innovations and
discoveries. However, Books and Periodicals have
continued to remain the leading sources of
communication since their conceptions in previous
centuries. With the practice of new techniques and
usage of new technology, scientists have
discovered a new device that could replace paper;
it is electronic ink. Although it is revolutionary
in concept, electronic ink is a direct fusion of
chemistry, physics, and electronics. Much like the
Chinese invention of paper in 105 A.D., scientists
believe that this innovation will change the world
for centuries to come (Bonsar). Imagine having
access to a complete library within the encasement
of one book.

Scientists believe that this is
possible with the technology that electronic ink
brings. What, you ask, makes electronic ink such a
fascinating discovery? Well, it is all in how it
functions and how it can change communication as
we know it to be today. A Company called EInk is
leading the way in this new scientific discovery.
EInk, a company developed out of the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, is vigorously working to
produce commercial models of their product by the
year 2003 or 2004. Within this timeframe, EInk is
optimistic that the company will be capable of
making electronic paper. Electronic paper will
look and feel just like real paper, printed with
ink, which is soon to be outdated. The difference
will be that the ink on the electronic paper will
be able to change, much like the characters on a
computer screen are able too (Holohan).

EInks goal
is to be able to bind pages of e-paper coated with
e-ink, and create what they call an electronic
book (e-book). It will look and read exactly like
any book in the library. However, when one is
finished reading it, one will be able to plug it
into a telephone line or a wireless receiver and
change the entire content of the book, by
downloading a new book (Holohan). Imagine the
possibilities behind this technology opened by the
inception of electronic books. Instead of waiting
in line and shopping for books in a crowded
bookstore, one can download thousands of books
from the Internet or other various sources and
plug them into his or her e-book. This, however,
is not only limited to books but also can be
linked to periodicals as well.

As Bonsar has
predicted, It could very well bring an end to
newspaper delivery as we know it. Instead of
delivery people tossing the paper from their bike
or out their car window, a new high-tech breed of
paper deliverers would simply press a button on
their computer that would simultaneously update
thousands of electronic newspapers each morning
(Bonsar). The basic idea behind electronic ink is
its ability to rearrange upon command. The
principal components of electronic ink are
millions of tiny microcapsules, each with a
diameter as small as 50 microns. Inside each
capsule are thousands of much tinier white
particles suspended in a dark fluid (EInk). When
an electrical charge is applied to the ink, the
particles in the capsules either float to the top
or sink to the bottom.

If they are at the top, the
ink looks white. If they are at the bottom, the
eye sees the fluid, making the ink appear dark
(EInk). Another piece of the technology is the
display that will hold and show the ink. For
signs, the display itself is a thin, flexible
plastic that feels much like the plastic packaging
that encases batteries and toys on store shelves.
The special sheet is laid out in cells – about
five cells per inch, or the equivalent of five
pixels per inch – in shapes designed so they can
be combined to make letters or numbers (EInk). A
computer chip is attached to every group of cells
that will form a letter, and a wire runs from the
chip to every cell in its group. The chip sends a
charge to each cell, and the charge turns the ink
in that cell white or dark.

The pattern of white
and dark cells forms letters and numbers on the
display screen. The microcapsules contained inside
these cells are suspended in a liquid “carrier
medium,” allowing them to be printed using
existing screen printing processes onto virtually
any surface; including glass, plastic, fabric and
even paper. Ultimately, electronic inks processing
ability will permit most any surface to become a
display screen in which its patterns can be
projected. This may not seem very extravagant,
however, imagine having the ability to instantly
modify your wallpaper in your home or office. This
can be achieved by EInks technology. By sending a
signal to the electronic ink painted on the walls,
a user could change the patterns and colors on the
wall (EInk).

With the technology that EInk is
currently working on, it is conceivable that
written ink on paper will become outdated within a
couple of years. With the capability of one being
able to download numerous amounts of books from
the Internet and hold them in the equivalent of a
memory pack, I believe this makes the
conceivability closer to reality than imaginable.
The people of EInk, however, supposedly have
different plans for paper. The developers do not
expect people to throw all paper out the instant
these products hit the market. Instead, they
propose that electronic ink will co-exist with
traditional paper and other display technologies.
However, as many people have theorized technology
will continue to augment upon itself. This can
lead to an occurrence in which EInks magnificent
innovation of the early 21st century will soon be
outdated, much like the ancient Chinese discovery
of paper is on the verge of being outdated in the
21st century. In the end, if EInk is able to
achieve their set goals, I believe they will have
changed the existence of written communication for
many centuries to come.

Works Cited 1. Bonsar,
Kevin Electronic Ink. Marshall Brains How Stuff
Works. Electronics & Telecom. 12-11-01
<www.howstuffworks.com/e-ink.htm> 2. EInk
Electronic Ink.

Electronic Ink. Technology.
12-11-01 <www.eink.com/technology> 3.
Holohan, Meghan Company hopes Electronic Ink
CNNews. Technology/Computing/Personal Technology.
12-11-01 <www.cnn.com>.

Research essay sample on New Electronic Technologies Aiding In Communication