Now, at last, we can have a REAL look & feel suit.
Dave
Xerox prints computer smarts on fabric, plastic
Summary
In conjunction with a conference in Europe this week, Xerox has announced a new ink technology for printing electronic circuitry on everything from clothes to roll-up computer displays.
Topics
In conjunction with a conference in Europe this week, Xerox has announced a new ink technology for printing electronic circuitry on everything from clothes to roll-up computer displays.Xerox's process can print fine details of electronic circuitry on flexible plastic.
Xerox's process uses ink containing silver metal that can be used to wire up processing circuitry. It works on surfaces such as plastic that earlier have shown an inconvenient tendency to melt under the high temperature of liquid silver; Xerox's process works with an ink compound with a much lower temperature, the company said.
"We've found the silver bullet that could make things like electronic clothing and inexpensive games a reality today. This breakthrough means the industry now has the capability to print electronics on a wider range of materials and at a lower cost," said Paul Smith, laboratory manager, Xerox Research Centre of Canada.
For more, read "Xerox hopes to print computing smarts on fabric, plastic" from CNET News.
Just In
Just from experience with fabricating multi-layer PC boards, I know that we are entering "interesting times". The limit has become your imagination -- if you can visualize a "window-cling" application you can now build it. And since the temperature regime has been lowered, little projects like printing a timer/detonator circuit directly onto an explosive compound should now be considered problematic in a whole different way...
I have notebooks filled with "blue-sky" applications for 'wearable' designs, restricted only by the availability of simple printable circuitry. Remember those ultra-fancy automotive paint jobs with multiple layers of paint and sealant and sparkle/flake, the ones that would all but glow in the dark?? The same multi-layered approach, given flexible circuitry and OLED illuminators -- awesome potential for high-tech 'jewelry' with smart-phone capabilities, for example.
I have notebooks filled with "blue-sky" applications for 'wearable' designs, restricted only by the availability of simple printable circuitry. Remember those ultra-fancy automotive paint jobs with multiple layers of paint and sealant and sparkle/flake, the ones that would all but glow in the dark?? The same multi-layered approach, given flexible circuitry and OLED illuminators -- awesome potential for high-tech 'jewelry' with smart-phone capabilities, for example.
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