Thinfilm, headquartered in Norway, working technology from PST Sensors has demonstrate the first printed temperature sensing system and is working towards commercialization. The company plans on delivering near-field communication (NFC)-readable sensor labels in 2014: Sensing, memory, and RF communication, all in a single label for under $1.

IDTechEx has identified several other companies, universities, and research organizations that are actively pursuing the commercialization of printed sensors. It forecasts the market for printed sensors will increase to more than $1 billion by 2020. A detailed analysis of the potential for printed sensors is available in the recently published IDTechEx report “Printed and Flexible Sensors 2014-2024: Technologies, Players, Forecasts”.

The answer to the question: not that far away.

For more information on the IDTechEx report, click here.