From those ingenious folks at PARC comes a new way to save trees. They have developed an erasable type of paper that holds a low resolution toner-based image that lasts for about 16 hours after which the paper can be returned to the copier paper tray and be reused. Current claims are that individual sheets can last for up to 50 views. The lab is responding to a simple realization that people like the feel of paper and don’t want to conduct all of their work on a computer screen. Brilliant. The developers are challenged to increase the contrast of the imaged pages, which apparently look like they have been output in a light purple ink from an ink jet. They are also working on increasing the persistence of the toner image. Stay tuned.
