Research dishes out flexible computer chips

POSTED BY: citizen
UPDATED: Tuesday, July 25, 2006 02:49
VIEWED: 1093
PAGE 1 of 1

CITIZEN

Monday, July 24, 2006 9:55 AM

Badgers newspaper may be closer than we think:

Quote:
New thin-film semiconductor techniques invented by University of Wisconsin-Madison engineers promise to add sensing, computing and imaging capability to an amazing array of materials.
...
The techniques could allow flexible semiconductors to be embedded in fabric to create wearable electronics or computer monitors that roll up like a window shade.

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.

HERO

Monday, July 24, 2006 12:13 PM

They already are flexible. Here let me just pop open my lap top and I'll show you...oh damn...

H

GEEZER

Monday, July 24, 2006 1:49 PM

For some reason, the first thing that came to mind was animated bumper stickers; dancing Grateful Dead bears, scrollng "My child is a..." messages, a Darwin fish eating a Jesus fish(or vice versa).

"Keep the Shiny side up"

PDCHARLES

Monday, July 24, 2006 1:51 PM

Here comes TVs on everything...

We'll be walking advertisements... Hmmm... might pay attention to some. Won't eliminate aspect ratios though.

TVs on your couch. So you don't have to strain your eyes.

TVs on your shower curtain.

TVs on your TP. (K... tempted. But not going any further with this)

Pimp my T(V)-Shirt

CITIZEN

Monday, July 24, 2006 2:02 PM

I imagine that the monitors would be a little too inflexible to be worn, another problem would the power supply and interface.

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.

PDCHARLES

Monday, July 24, 2006 2:09 PM

Hmmmm... We must get right on that then.

How many milliamps does a small power supply provide? What will the image cloth need?

Will the interface be complex? (lets say on/off and two image choices)

FREMDFIRMA

Monday, July 24, 2006 4:21 PM

You think that's neat, you oughta see what they're workin on up here in the frozen wastes of michigan.

U-M develops scalable and mass- producible quantum computer chip.
http://www.physorg.com/news9063.html

Recent goings on with discovered also that the chip on some processes does some kind of mathematical end-run and and does so faster when it's not even powered up!

Quantum computer solves problem, without running.
http://www.physorg.com/news11087.html

I don't have a deep enough tech background to fully comprehend it (mind, I know some of the geekers involved) but it's enough to send them running around the labs hopping up and down and screaming "Yippeeee!".. so, I figure it's good stuff.

They SAY it's possible to have em on the shelves in 3-5 years, maybe less, but the PC industry giants who're entrenched in what they're selling now will fight it tooth and claw to keep it off the market as long as possible... or will try to buy and monopolize it.

I'm kind of a semi-luddite in that I hate remote controls, cell phones, I-pods, Palm Pilots and the like, passionately, but even I can see the advantage to having full desktop level computing power in a device the size of a stopwatch, sure.

Fascinatin stuff, innit ?

-Frem

KWICKO

Tuesday, July 25, 2006 2:12 AM

I've been wondering how long it was going to take. Being in and around the T-shirt biz for the last 25 years, I've got a bit of a vested interest in all this. I saw somewhere recently that there's a new cloth that's imbedded with solar cells, that could conceivably generate enough power to, say, charge or run an iPod (figure a USB plug or some such on a sleeve hem or on the bottom of the shirt) or charge a cell phone. Or, possibly (given these recent developments) power a flexible, wearable monitor screen.

What's the point? Advertising, of course. I see the day coming (probably sooner than I'm comfortable with) when you'll put on your shirt and download your favorite logo or graphic to wear that day - for a price, of course! Sound crazy? Tell that to anyone and everyone wearing corporate logos on their shirts, jackets, hats, shoes, et cetera. You're advertising for them, and you're paying for the privelege!

Mike

Remember, Kiddies, you can't spell "QUAGMIRE" without "I", "R", "A", & "Q"!

GINOBIFFARONI

Tuesday, July 25, 2006 2:49 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by citizen:
Badgers newspaper may be closer than we think:
Quote:
New thin-film semiconductor techniques invented by University of Wisconsin-Madison engineers promise to add sensing, computing and imaging capability to an amazing array of materials.
...
The techniques could allow flexible semiconductors to be embedded in fabric to create wearable electronics or computer monitors that roll up like a window shade.

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.

There has been many sci-fi example of such tech.... one of my favorites is from the Sten series

Phototropic Camoflauge... it changes to show exactly what is behind you at the time

of course in the books these is later shown to also be used in womens party fashions, where panels of a dress change pattern, color and material and even briefly become transparent... quite a sight on the dancefloor I imagine

" Fighting them at their own game
Murder for freedom the stab in the back
Women and children and cowards attack

Run to the hills run for your lives "

http://www.darklyrics.com/lyrics/ironmaiden/liveafterdeath.html#12