Sony is developing a new watch made entirely out of e-paper that could be on shop shelves as soon as next year, according to the latest reports.
Anonymous sources close to the project have been speaking with Bloomberg, who say the watch face and wrist band will be made from a new patented material which allows every surface to act as a display and change its appearance. The device will supposedly emphasise style rather than trying to compete with either the Apple Watch or Sony's own SmartWatch 3.
This isn't the first time we've seen a watch use this kind of technology, as the Pebble Smart Watch also has an e-paper display. However, we'll be interested to see how Sony plans to utilise its e-paper watch strap as part of its potential display as well as the main watch face.
The watch is allegedly one of the first products to come out of Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai's newly formed business creative division within the company, which fast-tracks promising products and services which don't fit in with Sony's current business model. The Seed Acceleration Program was announced earlier this year and encourages employees to pitch ideas to investors both within and outside the company in the hope of receiving funding.
This news comes a day after Sony announced it would be streamlining its smartphone and TV line-up next year to help cut costs and improve the company's falling profits.
With CES just round the corner, we could well see a first glimpse of Sony's new e-paper watch on the show floor in January, but we'll bring you all the latest news as it's confirmed.
