Printed circuitry on plastic isn’t very new, but what is interesting is that HP is commoditizing it and creating wristwatches using display elements and chips etched right onto a roll of soft plastic. The printed faces can also contain solar cells to power the watch.
HP Labs has been developing a process to “print” the plastic display components for 10 years. The company originally intended to use the technology in portable memory drives, but creating larger screens out of plastic turned out to be a more economical and feasible venture, Taussig said.
There aren’t any pictures of this magical military watch but don’t expect anything amazing. The real value-add here is the removal of glass or plastic crystal that can crack and break under heavy use.