Touch Sensitive Paper With Built-In Speakers

The Bongo King writes "There have been several stories about digital paper discussed here on the site recently, but an offering from Swedish research scientists has a new twist. They have made a prototype billboard of interactive paper with built-in flat loudspeakers apparently also made of paper. 'Touch sensors are made using a fine pattern of conductive lines in which the current flow is altered when a hand touches it. Laptop computer touchpads use the same principle. Speakers are made by printing electromagnets out of conductive ink and stretching the paper over a cavity like a speaker cone behind the billboard. The electromagnets vibrate in response to a current, creating a sound.'"

Re:Oh god no

[clarkkent09]

Ever walked down the toy section at wallmart (or was it toys'r'us, can't remember). There are toys in packaging with sensors that detect people walking by and set off the sales pitch when you get close enough. Its quite startling, not to mention annoying.

Re:Enviromental

[timeOday]

Time Magazine just ran this interesting photo essay called "what people eat." One of the interesting things to notice is how much wasteful packaging [time.com] we use compared to those [time.com] who still eat mainly for nutrition. Which is not to say I'd like to live like a refugee, only that it's a shame quality food can't be packaged without all that expense and waste [nyc.gov]: "Only about 9 percent of the cost of a box of cereal is for the cereal -- the other 91 percent of the cost is for the package and advertising." Unfortunately we humans are suckers for outwards appearance.