Xerox to cut paper waste

Xerox scientists have developed experimental printing technology to produce images that last only a few days so the paper can be re-used, reports Australian IT.

According to Xerox, paper wastage in business is high because two out of every five pages printed are viewed only once before being discarded. Xerox's patented self-erasing document technology is aimed at solving this problem.

There is already a prototype that creates an image by using a light bar that provides a specific wavelength as a writing source. The image it creates fades naturally over time or can be immediately erased by exposure to heat. Although Xerox says the results have been positive, researchers admit there is still a lot to be done before any commercial products are released.

Printing on paper may be about to lose its readability advantage over modern display systems, with the unveiling of a product from Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology, says GizMag.

The new 16-level greyscale, VGA monochrome, thin-film transistor liquid crystal display has a resolution and reflective quality that is similar to that of paper.

The display innovation comes at a time of high demand for electronic dictionaries and other devices to be more readable. As resolution and reflectivity improve, electronic displays or e-paper may well eventually replace traditional paper.

Konica Minolta Business Solutions has released software designed to enhance customer care through efficient management of the company's multifunction printers (MFPs), reports Electronic Publishing.

The new bizhub vCare Device Relationship Management system enables the exchange of data between MFPs and the bizhub vCare server via the Internet.

According to Konica Minolta, because the system collects all MFP counter and status information, it can improve first-service-call effectiveness, deliver proactive service and facilitate intelligent supply management.

Canon's latest SELPHY ES1 printer features a DIGIC II image processor, which is the same one used in the company's digital cameras.

A CNet review says that by embedding the image processor in the new printer, the device is capable of advanced colour reproduction capabilities without the need of a PC.

The printer also bundles both ink and paper into a single cassette to ensure an optimal ink-to-paper ratio. This ensures users will not run out of ink and will not have to pay for more ink than is required.