The startup Modos Tech announced on Crowd Supply its E-ink Modos Paper Monitor with open-source code and development kit for users wanting to use their own E-Ink display with the Modos controller.
This is Alexander Soto's project, describing the journey to its creation, which began in February 2021. His goal was to overcome eye fatigue that occurs during daily prolonged use of regular displays. Speaking with writers, programmers, students, doctors, engineers, other professionals, and people with health problems, he found that many of them shared his problem.
Working with Dave Crosland and Vinting Zhang, Soto successfully created the perfect monitor for himself. Since its software and hardware are open and presented on GitHub, enthusiasts can create a similar display for themselves.
Main features of Modos Paper Monitor
- Panel type - monochrome E-ink (color panel also available)
- Refresh rate - 60 Hz
- Screen size - 13.3″
- Resolution - 1600 x 1200
- Display inputs - DVI through Micro HDMI, USB Type-C DisplayPort Alt-Mode
For many, the most important aspect may be low latency. Modos promises "constant latency <120 ms compared to competitors, which have up to 270 ms", making it relatively fast.
Image modes
- Black and white binary - full 60 Hz refresh rate, the clearest image and best response time, but no gray tones
- Bayer Dithering Mode - allows for more mid-gray tones, but makes text somewhat jagged
- Blue noise smoothing - further enhances gray shades, but makes text even sharper, best for video playback
- 4-level gray mode - considered as the ideal compromise between the extremes of black and white and 16-level gray tones
- 16-level gray mode - is actually a "hybrid mode" that automatically switches between 16-level gray mode and binary mode depending on the image
The release date and price of Modos Paper Monitor are not yet known. E-Ink monitors can be quite expensive: Dasung's Paperlike 253U with a 25.3" diagonal costs $1699.
Sources: Modos, Tom's Hardware
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