Talking Paper Invented by Scientists

[FazeD]

BBC NEWS | Technology | Talking paper made by scientists

Talking paper made by scientists

Sound streams out from the billboard when it is touched

Digital paper that can speak to you has been created by scientists. Researchers from Mid Sweden University have constructed an interactive paper billboard that emits recorded sound in response to a user's touch.
The prototype display uses conductive inks, which are sensitive to pressure, and printed speakers.
The team envisages that the technology could be used by advertisers, and in the future, it might even be employed for product packaging.
The researcher's display model shows its possible use for marketing holiday destinations.
One interesting idea would be to use it on cigarette packaging


Mikael Gulliksson


Mikael Gulliksson, who led the research project, told the BBC News website: "When you approach the billboard and put your hand on a postcard that shows a picture of a beach, you can hear a very brief description of that beach."
Down-sizing
The key to the billboard's capabilities is a layer of digital paper that is embedded with electronics.
This is printed with conductive inks, which, when applied with pressure, relay information to a micro-computer that contains recorded audio files. Sound then streams out from printed speakers, which are formed from more layers of conductive inks that sit over an empty cavity to form a diaphragm.
This functional layer is sandwiched between a thick sheet of extra-strong cardboard and another sheet of paper that is printed with the billboard's design.
The billboard contains a paper layer with embedded electronics


"This pilot project could be used for stands in shops and in other marketing displays," said Dr Gulliksson.
At present, the displays are expensive to produce, but the researchers are aiming to find ways of lowering the costs to make the boards easier to change and replace.
In the future, the team also plans to look at down-sizing the technology.
"Our next idea is to look at how we could use this in product packaging," Dr Gulliksson told the BBC.
"One interesting idea would be to use it on cigarette packaging, so instead of having a written message warning you of danger to your health, you would have a spoken one."
"There could be a whole range of applications," he added.

[RickTheRipper]

That's pretty cool. I wonder when our elemtary kids will be able to use that for their science projects?

[FazeD]

lmao have it on cue cards for a speech

[RadioactiveMan]

I'm curious to know who else could have invented talking paper besides scientists.

[Magnum Force]

Wow... a scientific invention only to be used for marketing purposes... that is such a helpful tool for the world.

Not only is this pointless (however it is somewhat ingenious because of the fact of how small and thin the electronics are), but it will start taking away from reading. Now, when you go to read a postcard, you will only have to press on the paper to hear what the writing says and the written text will become obsolete. Again, another tool used to make life easier, only to complicate it more.

[NUN-PUNCHER]

Interesting.....
Maybe soon the scientists can do a deal with Visa and make talking Credit Cards that will talk you into racking up the card. Or maybe talking beers and cigarettes so I can make them argue with each other.
Yet another invention that will be exploited and abused into the world of Marketing and eventually will make companies cut down on the cost of paying people for employment.

[Cylon]

At first I thought this was a waste, especially hearing that scientists have invented it, since there are so many other important things to be working on in this world than talking paper. The scientists probably specified in some type of media related field, so it was their job to create better/more advanced media tools then lets say a cure for cancer or something.

There's not much use for it other than the media field like everyone else mentioned, but it's nice to see our technology advancing.

[Double_Life]

One more step closer in having to save John Conner again...

[BoyEngland]

I think this is great actually, but I would since I am easily impressed.

They were saying how it could be used for books for the blind and such.

With that said, why can't it surpass braille?

[shadow1768]

A paper earphone jack and paper earphones and we're set