WASP is using the specialist manufacturing techniques developed for resistive touch screens to print special inks onto a polyester material to create electroluminescent (EL) panels. Phosphor particles in the ink are electrically excited to produce light and the intensity can be controlled by the voltage and frequency of the AC power supply. Typically 50-150cd/m2 can be produced using 115V at 400Hz with a half-life above 3kh.

Used within a membrane switch panel, EL has a number of advantages over traditional types of illumination being very thin nature and able to be designed to various shapes to fit specific requirements.

Various colours are available and standard inverters can be used to aid design and prototyping.

Primarily introduced as an illumination layer for flat front panel membranes, they can also be used as stand alone illumination panel in various applications, like fire exit signs.