E Ink Holdings and Himax Technologies have joined forces to unveil a revolutionary smart retail solution at Touch Taiwan 2024. The innovative technology combines Himax’s WiseEye ultralow power AI sensing with E Ink’s electronic paper displays, with a focus on improving the retail signage and display markets.
WiseEye is a cutting-edge AI accelerator-embedded ASIC platform that is specifically designed for ultra-low power applications. It enables the deployment of convolutional neural networks (CNN)-based machine learning (ML) models in battery-powered AIoT devices. The technology supports a range of functions such as motion sensing, human presence detection, people counting, face detection, and speech recognition. These capabilities are crucial for predictive maintenance, condition monitoring, asset tracking, and occupancy detection, where power efficiency, bandwidth optimization, and privacy are top priorities.
The first-generation WiseEye Module combines the proprietary WE1 AI processor and the HM01B0 Always-On Sensor (AoS) camera. It is highly compact, measuring only 12.5 mm x 17.0 mm x 2.45 mm, and includes a 22-pin FPC connector for easy attachment to device boards. This facilitates swift system integration using either a standard 24-pin ZIF FPC connector or standard assembly processes.
This advanced technology offers retailers the ability to automatically adjust display content based on customer proximity and behavior, providing personalized marketing strategies. Additionally, it supports improved inventory management and offers valuable insights into customer traffic and preferences, ultimately enhancing the overall retail experience.
Himax Technologies has been developing its WiseEye platform for over five years now and has been deployed successfully in various industries such as wearables healthcare devices and industrial IoT applications.
With this partnership with E Ink Holdings, Himax Technologies aims to further expand its market reach by providing retailers with innovative solutions that can help them improve their operations while also enhancing the customer experience.
Touch Taiwan 2024 will provide an opportunity for attendees to see firsthand how this cutting-edge technology can revolutionize the retail industry by offering personalized marketing strategies while improving inventory management and customer engagement.