The next step after achieving read/write systems, Sutija said, will be adding components to the printed materials that can read sensors and store information from them into the memory. Once that milestone is reached, these dirt-cheap nature of these printed devices will enable them to be attached to almost anything, and with appropriate contact and non-contact interfaces, report back on everything – the "internet of things".

"Of course," Sutija said, "the Holy Grail is NFC and RFID systems."