Sony shows off e-paper

Ultra-thin display shows colour images though only 0.3 millimeters thick

It will be some time before the new Sony technology comes to the consumer market

Electronics giant Sony has developed a flexible display that can show colour images at a high resolution though it is only 0.3 millimeters thick.

There are still technical hurdles to be overcome before the technology can be used for commercial products, including improving durability and increasing the size of the 2.5-inch screen.

But ultra-thin, flexible displays have major potential, says Sony.

'In the future, it could get wrapped around a lamppost or a person's wrist, even worn as clothing,' said spokesman Chisato Kitsukawa.

Tatsuo Mori, an engineering and computer science professor at Nagoya University, said it would be some time before the product could be developed for the consumer market.

Other companies, including LG. Philips LCD and Seiko Epson are also working on a different kind of 'electronic paper' technology.