The collaboration will use the respective strengths of different institutions in a newe-paper distribution concept.
A Chinese–Finnish joint project is combining broadcast technologies and e-paper devices to create a new media platform for information distribution. The goal of the venture is to develop a new low-cost digital medium that specifically targets the problems of communicating with a dispersed population over a wide geographic area.
The Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Aalto University and Shanghai’s research group National Engineering Center of Digital Television (NERC-DTV) are current partners in the project.
Participants plan to create a low-cost e-paper device that is energy efficient. E-paper is designed to mimic the appearance of ordinary paper. The machine is power efficient enough to run even in solar power. To keep the device extremely energy efficient and inexpensive, it would only receive – and not transmit – messages.
“This gives us a solution where information distribution can be facilitated even in very challenging environments where electricity disruptions occur, like in the case of earthquakes, floods or other natural disasters,” says Yrjö Neuvo, member of Metropolia’s board of directors.
The device would be used throughout rural China, so the population would receive a variety of commercial and public-services information, including news, educational materials and official government bulletins.
“The solution of combining the broadcasting technology with the e-paper technology will greatly reduce the cost of paper distribution,” says Wang Yao, vice-president of NERC-DTV. “The digitised paper will be compressed and broadcast wirelessly, and received and displayed by cost-efficient e-paper technology-based terminals. The system will not only be an economic solution but a green one as well. This is a kind of revolutionary system. We believe this green and efficient solution will be the trend of the future.”
NERC-DTV will bring its expertise in digital broadcast technology to the collaboration, while the Finnish educational institutions will work on the hardware. Aalto and Metropolia both have extensive experience developing energy-efficient electronics and e-paper technology. The Electria Research Unit of Metropolia is already experienced with working with e-paper manufacturers around the world. Aalto University is researching distribution platforms.
“NERC-DTV is a high-technology research institute focusing on future digital technology of broadcast television and new digital media,” Yao explains. “Finland’s Metropolia and Aalto University are both leading universities in digital-display technology. We established our collaboration during Shanghai Expo 2010. This project benefits all three partners and we collaborate well.” China Finland Golden Bridge, Greater Helsinki Promotion’s spinoff for China -bound investment activities, provides consultation support for e-paper project. “In a wide technology collaboration like this it is crucial to ensure that all the parties from China and Finland have clear roles and responsibilities regarding IPR issues and commercialisation,” says Marika Mäkelä, Director of Customer Operations from Golden Bridge Ltd.
A delegation from China visited Finland in mid-August. Tiina Vuorio of Metropolia says that the agenda included workshops with Finnish companies, visits to other hi-tech companies and trips to Aalto University.
“The most important part of the visit was to facilitate networking and personal relationships among people that are involved in the project, both in Finland and in China,” she says. “Our guests also enjoyed a visit to Porvoo and got a taste of Finnish culture and history.”
New business model
The distribution of content via a digital television signal to a low-cost low-energy e-paper device creates a new opportunity for content-service concepts, business models and markets. Currently, e-paper readers are popular for books, such as Amazon’s Kindle. These are, however, expensive solutions – the Kindle, for example, currently sells for about €130.
“Metropolia and Aalto together have organised a coordination committee in Finland based on the supply chain, including content provider, broadcaster, hardware provider, software provider and manufacturer,” says Yao. “Also, we have built the same cooperating organisation in China. This greatly helps our project run smoothly, and develop as we expect.”
Yao says that they are now planning a pilot run with China’s largest newspaper. The newspaper will provide the content for the programme.
“We are planning a wide trial with China’s People’s Daily digital-distribution system when the system prototype is ready,” he says. “It is very important for us to build a triple-win business model for newspaper-content providers, technology providers and distribution providers in China.”
Text: DAVID J. CORD, Helsinki Times