O-paper is based on the Microcapsule Electrophoretic Display technology. The O-paper sheet is a type of polymer based material, which consists of a transparent conductive polymer sheet  which works as a front electrode,  and millions of microcapsules coated on the sheet. For an O-paper display, the O-paper sheet is laminated on a substrate which works as a rear electrode. Each microcapsule, which is only the diameter of a human hair, contains negatively charged white particles and neutrally black particles suspended in a colorless fluid. When a voltage is applied across the  two electrodes, the white paritlces will migrate and gather to the electrode with positive charge, leaving black particles relatively static. If the white particles are located at the front electrode(viewing side), it appears white on the display; if the white particles are located at the rear electrode, leaving black particles near the front electrode, it appears dark on the display. Usually the rear electrode is divided into segments or pixels, and the voltage on each segment or pixel can be controlled independently, allowing various image being formed on the display.
   Even if the voltage across the two electrodes is removed, the particles will still remain relatively still at current locations. This allows O-paper displaying a static image without any power consumption, and enables the low power consumption feature.