A while back Wired ran an article about digital paper. It would be like a computer screen packed into a sheet of paper. Essentially, it would mean the end of paper as we know it. Today some U.S. researchers unveiled working samples (via Metafilter).

This technology is going to revolutionize any industry that prints words on paper. The only reason I don't do e-books is because I can't stand staring at a tiny screen when I'm reading a book. I like to have something tangible, thin and bigger than a PDA. If I could have a screen the size of a 8.5" x 11" piece of paper then I would give up paper forever. I would rebuy every book I own.

There is still lots of work to be done on these screens as they are not quite thin enough to be folded in half (currently just under .3 millimeters) and their refresh rate needs to come down from .25 seconds to under 15 milliseconds to display video. In the meantime, start packaging these bad boys as I want one right now. Goodbye recycle bin!