GADGET: We'll drINK to that! E Ink displays coming to a coffee mug near you

There’s something fabulous about E Ink – tech that’s as easy on the eye as paper and just as flexible. Finding gadgets other than e-readers to add E Ink displays to has proved somewhat problematic though. Sure, we’ve seen the YotaPhone smartphone, which crams in a second e-ink panel, but otherwise innovation has been pretty much restricted to Kindles and the odd smartwatch. That’s about to change with the introduction of the E Ink coffee mug – one of the last places we expected the tech to crop up, but one of the most awesome.

So what does the smart coffee mug actually have to offer, apart from the ability to displaymonochrome pictures (and in the tradition of breakfast imagery, hopefully in the form of either Jesus or Che Guavara!)?

The mug itself crams the majority of its electrical gubbins into an enclosed bottom section, which is capable of controlling the E Ink panel. Power for the mug is harvested from the heat of your coffee (or tea), and the display flicks through to new images whenever you refill your drink.

There’s a compatible smartphone app to go alongside the e-ink smart mug, letting youshare images that pop up with friends on social networks, proving that you really have just seen a apparition while munching on your toast.

And just imagine what the tech could lead on to; add wi-fi and RSS feeds, and you could get your morning gadget news snippets straight to the side of your coffee cup! No more need to juggle drinks, smartphones and tablets… Yes please!

The smart mug has been dreamed up by Finish coffee roaster Paulig and advertising agency TBWA/Helsinki, says Mashable, presumably over breakfast and a nice cup of tea. There’s currently no word on pricing, but if beta testing in Finland goes well the mug could hit the shelves next year. Watch this space for the bigger (E Ink) picture!

What images would you like to show up on your smart mug? Leave a comment below and let us know.