The document proposes a concept called eWALL that would allow any wall to be converted into an interactive display using three layers of specialized paint. The first layer would have capacitive properties to control the positioning of beads in the second layer, which contains white gyricon microcapsules to make information persistent. The third layer contains black and white gyricon beads to display readable information on the wall. This concept is presented as a first step toward more advanced interactive wall technologies that are not limited by grids or pixels.

1. Current Trend
Proposal
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eWALL
A step in Future Interaction with
Urban Environment
Centre de Recerca i Innovaci´o de Catalunya, CRIC, Barcelona
Sitges, June 27-28th, 2013
Y.Richard G.Martinez M.Williams CRIC Brainstorming 1 / 5

2. Current Trend
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eWALL
Outline
Current Trend
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Y.Richard G.Martinez M.Williams CRIC Brainstorming 2 / 5

3. Current Trend
Proposal
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eWALL
Current Trend
In a Urban context; What better than the Walls for interact with your social
environment? There is walls everywhere and it’s normal that we use it as the
prefered media. And this can be reduced to your own environment, your flat,
your home, your job, etc.
Not Sustainable
Current trend is restricted: Cost, Installation, Recycling, Environment (the
Green one). Social interaction/immersion will be limitated to specific places,
if it happens...
• Walls will not be converted/reformed into lcd capacitive displays
• Cameras and wall projectors are invasive technologies
So, how can this happen and when?
When we will dispense us of the grid, the matrix. Remember, Pixels should be
at least hexagonal, not square. Making components smaller is still the normal
choice; Thus a group of squares can be view as a circle, it’s ok, but:
• The grid will always have to be smaller than the pixels (limitation factor, the
grid define the system resolution)!
• Thus, how to avoid the grid/matrix and control those tiny components (pixels)?
Y.Richard G.Martinez M.Williams CRIC Brainstorming 3 / 5

4. Current Trend
Proposal
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eWALL
Proposal
We propose an investigation/an immersion; a step in the comprehension of
physical mechanisms, that allow micro-components to interact with each other,
and this, for visual interactive content creations.
We support and organize this investigation around a simple concept. We want
to be able to convert whatever wall into an interactive device, as simply
as if you were having to paint it.
And this is the case!
We have currently thinked eWALL with three
layers of painting:
• A first layer with capacitive properties
(ON/OFF Painting)
• A second layer with White/White Gyricon
Microcapsules
• A third layer with Black/White Gyricon
Microcapsules
Y.Richard G.Martinez M.Williams CRIC Brainstorming 4 / 5

5. Current Trend
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eWALL
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• First layer is connected to current and will organize spatially the beads from the
second layer (until it dry), following the principle of energy minimisation in a
magnetic field. Acting also as a reset of the wall (cleaning) and offering the
interactive capabilities.
• Second layer (once dry) will organize spatially the beads from the third layer
(until it dry) by the same principle. Also responsible of making persistent the
information shown on the wall, until a reset.
• Third layer, by having Black and White hemispherical beads, is responsible for
making the information viewable, readable, understandable...
Remember!
It’s a first step, an investigation.
SME
We are in contact with the French fabricant (SLPV) of the ON/OFF painting.
Really Interested.
Last but not least!
We need emulsion, enthusiasm to move ahead eWALL!
Y.Richard G.Martinez M.Williams CRIC Brainstorming 5 / 5