The paperless office may still be a long way from becoming reality but one more piece of the puzzle has just fallen into place. Sony has this week announced the release of their Digital Paper, hoping to shift the world one step closer to an entirely paperless office.

Sony’s new DPT-S1 is hoping to displace one of the most ubiquitous and user friendly device ever invented, no small task.

In order to achieve the paperless revolution Sony has a technological revolution occurring behind the bezel of the DPT. This is the first device to use the new Mobius flexible plastic display. A technology that should see cheaper and more durable displays evolve.

The thinnest and lightest A4 sized tablet on the market Sony has shown that it knows how to design eye catching gadgets.  At $1,100 USD the DPT isn’t the cheapest tablet on the market mind you.

Weighing just 384 grams and at .26 inches / .7cm thick (30 pieces of paper) the DTP is unexpectedly compact and light yet it is exceptionally durable due to its new plastic display.

The first example of a flexible plastic substrate display features a 13.3 inch A4 E-Ink panel capable of 1600 x 1200 resolution and 16 shades of grey. The light weight and flexible panel is responsible for most of the DPT’s exceptional abilities.

Touch is the interface of paper and required by any paper replacement, the DPT’s touch interface features both pen and touch screen abilities. Internally there is 4 GB of storage for documents, Wi-Fi and a micoSD card slot. Battery life is quoted by Sony as up to three weeks running on a single charge.

The plastic display may be flexible but the plastic bezel and case turn this device back into a more rigid gadget, you do need to be able to write on it after-all. The durability of the new panel is put to good use though, leaning on the display while writing or sketching poses no risk to this display, prop the corner of your table up with it if you want.

Available in May for $1,100 USD Digital Paper isn’t cheap; as such Sony will be initially aiming the tablet at legal, medical and educational markets.

Is the world ready for the paperless office? Does the paper trail end at Sony’s doors? Only time will tell, but it will make the art of paper airplane construction a little difficult.

Reference: Sony