Himax Joins Forces with E Ink to Revolutionize Smart Retail with Premier of WiseEye AI at 2024 Touch Taiwan

Powering Game-Changing Advancement in Immersive Shopping Experience with Ultralow Power Context-Aware AI for Battery Operated Signage EPD and ESL

TAINAN, Taiwan and HSINCHU, Taiwan, April 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Himax Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: HIMX) (“Himax” or “Company”), a leading supplier and fabless manufacturer of display drivers and other semiconductor products, today announced a collaboration with E Ink Holdings Inc. (“E Ink"), a pioneer and distinguished leader in ePaper technology, to introduce a revolutionary ultralow power battery-operated smart retail solution at the upcoming 2024 Touch Taiwan. The solution incorporates Himax's leading-edge WiseEye ultralow power AI sensing technology with E Ink’s signage EPD (“Electronic Paper Display”), featuring industry-leading E Ink’s Kaleido display, and ESL (“Electronic Shelf Label”). Leveraging WiseEye, the smart retail solution deploys context-aware AI in human presence and shopper insight detection while also significantly enhancing the already impressive battery life of an ePaper display and enabling real-time personalized marketing.

Himax WiseEye ultralow power AI sensing technology incorporates Himax proprietary ultralow power AI processor, always-on CMOS image sensor, and CNN-based AI algorithm, offering state-of-the-art ultralow power, always-on sensing, on-device context-aware AI and has been widely deployed in consumer electronics and AIoT related applications. In an era where personal data privacy is paramount, WiseEye AI ensures the security of sensitive personal data by conducting AI inferences locally on the endpoint devices. This approach guarantees that no raw images are transmitted outside the device. Instead, only AI-enabled personalized metadata is delivered in byte-level size to the store management system on the cloud. This greatly reduces latency, minimizes power consumption, and ultimately offers users maximum privacy protection for their information.

Amidst the rising popularity of ePaper displays in the smart retail sector already known for their remarkable energy efficiency, the integration of WiseEye technology-enabled smart camera devices into retail environments, utilizing E Ink’s robust ecosystem in E-Signage and ESL, signifies a collaborative effort poised to deliver even greater benefits. These include gaining valuable insights into customer behavior, optimizing inventory management, and delivering personalized marketing messages. By leveraging WiseEye’s ultralow power AI, the deployment of battery-powered devices becomes feasible, facilitating easy installation throughout the store and enabling comprehensive data collection. The rich metadata set collected by WiseEye AI, such as people count, location, and dwell time enhances the analysis of customer foot traffic patterns, popular shopper routes, and demographic information. For example, real-time promotions and discount information could be instantly displayed on ePaper devices, emphasizing key content in areas where shoppers are congregating. Additionally, WiseEye can effectively monitor shelf goods and warehouse inventory in real time, providing a robust mechanism for efficient inventory management. Overall, WiseEye-enabled smart cameras can play a crucial role in helping retailers optimize operations and provide personalized experiences to their customers, ultimately driving business growth and profitability.