Apparently the Flexible Display Center at Arizona State University is working with the US army on flexible, non-breakable devices that could be used in the field — even on the battlefield. These would fit the bill for fully-rugged devices, designed from the inside out to be impervious to just about any environmental threat.

The article also quotes Nicholas Negroponte of the One Laptop Per Child project. His group expects to release a sub-$100 slate computer similar to the iPad by 2012. Negroponte says the device will be plastic and unbreakable, and will have power requirements so low that it can be charged by shaking it or winding it up.

Bilton credits the $100 laptop project with influencing the development of cheap netbooks. The article suggests that, similarly, the price of e-readers is likely to drop sharply — perhaps sinking as low as $20.

You know what this could mean? I’m going to get my electronic newspaper!