Posted 10.27.2009 at 10:50 am
9 Comments
Printable Circuitry
Xerox, via Cnet
If you're like me, the lack of computing power in your T-shirt causes constant problems. Well, thanks to the guys over at Xerox, you'll never have to worry about a jacket that can't run Windows 7 ever again. The company has just announced a new process for creating an ink that doubles as a circuit, paving the way for ubiquitous computing through printable electronics.
To create the circuits, Xerox uses an ink containing signal-conducting silver. Previous attempts at using liquid silver to print circuits failed because the ink required high heat to keep the metal liquid. That heat melted weaker substrates like plastic, and made the ink incompatible with existing technology. This new ink, however, can print circuits at room temperature from currently available inkjet printers.
Xerox is already making the ink available to third-party developers, and it will be widely available once they begin making the ink in bulk. The near-term uses focus on printing RFID tags and smart paper, but since the ink can print onto nearly any surface, the applications are nearly limitless. A 150 GB necktie, anyone?
[via Cnet]
9 Comments
To comment, please Login.
Popular Tags
Technology
|
|
|
|
|
|
June 2013: American Energy Independence
Five amazing, clean technologies that will set us free, in this month's energy-focused issue. Also: how to build a better bomb detector, the robotic toys that are raising your children, a human catapult, the world's smallest arcade, and much more.
Popular on Popsci
Most Commented
Technology
- Defense Distributed's Cody Wilson On Being Told To Remove 3-D Printed Gun Plans: "We Win"
- This Newer, Stronger 3-D Printed Gun Costs Just $25
- Thieves Stole $45 Million From ATMs Because The U.S. Uses Absurd 40-Year-Old Technology
- Autonomous X-47B Jet Fighter Makes Historic First Launch From An Aircraft Carrier
- 2013 Invention Awards: Family Flier
- A California State Senator Is Trying To Outlaw 3-D Printed Guns
- Russia Is Building Robots To 'Neutralize' Terrorists
- Time-Lapse GIFs Show Earth Transforming Over 25 Years
- How To Turn An AK-47 Into A Soup Ladle
- America's Road To Energy Independence, Part 1
Most Emailed
Technology
- New Water-Repellant Fabric Is Like A Second Skin
- U.S. Army Creates Shoebox-Size Universal Battery Charger
- Who Wouldn't Want To Stay In This Totally Insane Space Hotel!?
- Big Pic: Eruption Of Alaska's Pavlof Volcano, As Seen From The International Space Station
- Obama Set To Reboot Drone Strike Policy And Retool The War On Terror
- The World’s Largest Lego Model Is A Life-Size X-Wing [Video]
- Why Don't We Have More Drones Monitoring Wildfires?
- Navy Completes First Flight Of Game-Changing MQ-4C Triton Spy Drone [Video]
- Should Photojournalists Be Permitted To Manipulate Photos?
- This Newer, Stronger 3-D Printed Gun Costs Just $25
Most Viewed
Technology
- New Water-Repellant Fabric Is Like A Second Skin
- U.S. Army Creates Shoebox-Size Universal Battery Charger
- Who Wouldn't Want To Stay In This Totally Insane Space Hotel!?
- Big Pic: Eruption Of Alaska's Pavlof Volcano, As Seen From The International Space Station
- Obama Set To Reboot Drone Strike Policy And Retool The War On Terror
- The World’s Largest Lego Model Is A Life-Size X-Wing [Video]
- Why Don't We Have More Drones Monitoring Wildfires?
- Navy Completes First Flight Of Game-Changing MQ-4C Triton Spy Drone [Video]
- Should Photojournalists Be Permitted To Manipulate Photos?
- This Newer, Stronger 3-D Printed Gun Costs Just $25
Online Content Director: Suzanne LaBarre | Email
Senior Editor: Paul Adams | Email
Associate Editor: Dan Nosowitz | Email
Assistant Editor: Colin Lecher | Email
Assistant Editor: Rose Pastore | Email
Contributing Writers:
Kelsey D. Atherton | Email
Francie Diep | Email
Shaunacy Ferro | Email
Today on PopSci.com
Copyright © 2012 Popular Science
A Bonnier Corporation Company. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
Imagine you download a circuit diagram for a new processor or extra memory etc. and just print it and connect it to your PC!
of course the question is would you have to scan for the information stored on the paper.
and how would one hook the paper up to your computer
A circuit on paper could be connected to computer using a special cable w/ one end USB and the other w/ a specially designed sticker-like USB cable connector. It should not be any hard.
paper that can be used as solar panels...if possible.
if we can add pixels to make a screen on the technology, we can make animated signs and logos, and other fun stuff.
@fb36
if you were to print a new processor, then they would have this stuff regulated, like you couldnt get the design unless you wanted to pay the same amount, but maybe they could make much bigger and more powerful processors by putting a bunch of pieces of paper together. can anybody say 10ghz?
Aside from the hilarious full circle deal (punch cards-paper processors) whoo! another way the gov't can track us! chalk one up for big brother!
extremechiton
10/27/09 at 9:38 pm
paper that can be used as solar panels...if possible.
if we can add pixels to make a screen on the technology, we can make animated signs and logos, and other fun stuff.
=========>> Honestly, they already have the printable solar panels. A guy invented the printable solar powder almost 2 years ago, i am surprised there hasn't been much on that since then.
Very good! Pop sci your writers articles are enlightening and simple to process. This is going to be another period of technological development. The movement to solar paper wow I just cannot imagine the creativity that occurs when researchers and scientists begin the process. Oh what fun!
John
www.officesaver.co.uk