Food could be sold in interactive ‘smart packaging’ made of electronic cardboard

Engineers behind self-powered technology say it could also be used to control a music player or let people sign for parcels, reports Chris Baynes

Engineers have developed a printing process that can render any paper or cardboard packaging into a keyboard (Purdue University/Ramses Martinez)

The food of the future could be sold in interactive packaging after engineers developed technology which can transform paper and cardboard into an electronic interface.

The inventors of the self-powered electronic paper said it could also be used to control a music player or let people sign for parcels.

The technology uses vertical pressure sensors which do not require a battery as they harvest energy from contact with a user.