A research group in Japan has developed new electronic displays that can be cut into any shape with scissors.
Led by Masayoshi Higuchi, the Electronic Functional Macromolecules Group at the Research Center for Functional Materials in Japan used a polymer with electrochromic properties that can be sprayed onto a flexible substrate to form a coating layer stable against moisture and oxygen. The new display requires only a few seconds of electrical input to switch visual information, and the display will last even after power supply is discontinued, making it suitable for low power IoT applications.
The next stage is to increase the display area and make it capable of showing multiple colours. The team is also working on a way for people to freely change the colours of various objects/items, e.g. windows, the interior or exterior of motor vehicles and buildings, umbrellas and sunglasses, and can display letters and symbols as appropriate.