Engineers Have Figured Out How To Make Interactive Paper (gizmodo.com) 28
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Gizmodo: Engineers at Purdue University have created a printing process by which you can coat paper or cardboard with "highly fluorinated molecules." This then makes the coated paper dust, oil, and water-repellent, meaning you can then print multiple circuit layers onto the paper without smudging the ink. According to a paper the engineers published in Nano Energy, these "triboelectric areas" are then capable of "self-powered Bluetooth wireless communication." That's science-speak to say that paper printed and coated in this way doesn't require external batteries as it generates electricity from contact with a user's finger.
You can see a demonstration of how the tech works in these two videos. In the first video, Purdue engineers have a paper keypad that's been treated with the aforementioned "omniphobic" coating. The paper keypad is then doused in some neon-green solution. In the second video, you can then see a person use the paper keypad to actually type on a laptop with a disabled keyboard. In a third video, Purdue's team printed a forward, back, mute, and volume bar on the back of a piece of paper. In it, you can see someone controlling audio playback by dragging their finger along the volume bar, as well as skipping forward and back in the music queue. While the tech itself is pretty cool, another neat aspect is that because it works on paper and cardboard, it would be relatively inexpensive, flexible, and quick to make. That makes it a good candidate for things like smart packaging.
You can see a demonstration of how the tech works in these two videos. In the first video, Purdue engineers have a paper keypad that's been treated with the aforementioned "omniphobic" coating. The paper keypad is then doused in some neon-green solution. In the second video, you can then see a person use the paper keypad to actually type on a laptop with a disabled keyboard. In a third video, Purdue's team printed a forward, back, mute, and volume bar on the back of a piece of paper. In it, you can see someone controlling audio playback by dragging their finger along the volume bar, as well as skipping forward and back in the music queue. While the tech itself is pretty cool, another neat aspect is that because it works on paper and cardboard, it would be relatively inexpensive, flexible, and quick to make. That makes it a good candidate for things like smart packaging.
So if I miss a spot (Score:1)
Is it interactive enough that when I miss a spot wiping my ass, it'll take care of it for me?
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All paper is interactive (Score:5, Informative)
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...said the constipated mathematician
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Been re-reading Neal Stephenson lately (Score:2)
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Re: the subject => Me too! I especially like the Baroque Cycle.
When will it end? (Score:2)
a printing process by which you can coat paper or cardboard with "highly fluorinated molecules."
Fluoride in the water and in my toothpaste, now on my paper?
[Will the paper at least come in mint flavor?]
Oh my (Score:2)
Soon bringing paper on a plane will be forbidden.
Somebody might draw a bomb on it.
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Re: Oh my (Score:3)
I'd be more concerned with effectively making a discrete audio recording device by "printing" it on paper. If they've already got Bluetooth circuitry in it, then recording audio from vibrations of the paper isn't far away.
Re: Oh my (Score:1)
It's actually easier. All you need is to measure the conductivity of a long line. Ink squeezed = higher conductivity = paper pushed more in the middle = wave goes up. Ink stretched = lower conductivity = paper pulled more in the middle = wave goes down. Small amp, A/D converter, done.
Interactive circuit board^H^H^H^H^Hpaper. (Score:2)
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Nitpicks (Score:4, Interesting)
In the first video, dots of the solution are placed at select points on the keypad. Is that necessary, or can the dots be placed anywhere?
In the same video, a person blots those same dots away with a paper towel, but they don't wipe them away. Is there a reason for this? Can't the paper be submerged/sprayed with this solution?
It would have been nice if the second video was longer than 14 seconds. Showing someone typing numbers doesn't really demonstrate anything.
How long does this last? Does the solution need to be reapplied every so often? What if you fold the paper multiple times, as if putting it in your back pocket? How soggy does the paper get?
Don't think the second relies on the first (Score:1)
In the same video, a person blots those same dots away with a paper towel
These dots are not related to the second video; they are just showing that a liquid that would stain pretty much anything can simply be absorbed away by Bounty, the Quicker Picker Upper.
But seriously, it's just showing the paper does not absorb the water, or even get stained by the solution.
How long does this last? Does the solution need to be reapplied every so often?
The solution is not involved in the second run, the second run is th
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In the same video, a person blots those same dots away with a paper towel, but they don't wipe them away. Is there a reason for this? Can't the paper be submerged/sprayed with this solution?
Not only that - why is the demo split into two videos? It would have been more impressive to then type on the paper keypad before and right after blotting away the moisture. Did they not do so because it wouldn't work?
Just being able to blot some liquid off a piece of paper isn't a big deal - I can do that with waxed paper right now.
conductive ink could already do that (Score:2)
so now start working on printing the electronics on paper as well.
Neal Stephensen (Score:1)
Some sort of reference to "Diamond Age" is needed here, but it's too late for me to figure the right one at the moment.
Is that fake or real ? (Score:3)
I couldn't find much details on how the technology is actually working, and the videos are not great. They could easily be fakes. Not saying they are but honestly it's hard to tell.
Anyone familiar with the subject who could explain how this works ?
Interactive paper? Bah! (Score:2)
Dr. Who has PSYCHIC paper!
What about recycling? (Score:2)
Good luck recycling fluorinated smart packaging. Those bond energies are so high it would take extreme conditions or specialized catalysts to break it down.
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cheap shots (Score:4, Funny)
"science-speak"?? (Score:1)
What is this. Literal Idiocracy?
Will you also tell us that they talked like a fag and their shit's all retarded?
So, it replaces a mylar contact pad? (Score:2)