Kent Displays

Kent Displays, based in Kent, Ohio, specializes in the development and manufacturing of innovative writing tools utilizing liquid crystal display (LCD) technology. The company's flagship product line is the Boogie Board eWriter, which revolutionized the writing experience by providing a digital alternative to traditional paper-based methods. Launched in 2009, the Boogie Board uses cholesteric liquid crystals that can be manipulated into different states to create a writing surface that mimics the feel of pen on paper without the need for ink or paper.

In 2023, Kent Displays introduced VersaNotes, a thinner and more flexible iteration of their writing technology. VersaNotes are designed to be an eco-friendly alternative to traditional sticky notes, featuring a magnetic edge for attachment and utilizing a battery-powered stylus called the VersaPen for writing and erasing. The company's products are manufactured in the US using a roll-to-roll manufacturing process that combines plastic substrates with liquid crystal material to create flexible, pressure-sensitive displays.

Kent Displays' technology stems from research conducted at Kent State University's Liquid Crystal Institute, with the company being founded in 1993 to commercialize this technology. The company's innovations are protected by multiple patents, and their products have gained popularity for their sustainability and reusability features. As of March 2023, Kent Displays had sold over one million Boogie Board devices since the product's launch in January 2010.