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Invisible electronics
In the future, many kinds of electronic devices can be made invisible to the naked eye
Researchers are reporting an advance toward the long-sought goal of "invisible electronics" and transparent displays, which can be highly desirable for heads-up displays, wind-shield displays, and electronic paper. In the future car windshield can display a map to your destination, or a store window can double as a billboard with images that would seem to be floating in air.
Northwestern University researchers report that by combining organic and inorganic materials they have produced transparent, high-performance transistors that can be assembled inexpensively on both glass and plastics. Transistors are used for all the switching and computing necessary in electronics, and, in displays, they are used to power and switch the light sources. High-performance, transparent transistors could be combined with existing kinds of light display technologies, such as organic light-emitting diodes, liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and electroluminescent displays, which are already used in televisions, desktop and laptop computers and cell phones.
To create thin-film transistors, films of the inorganic semiconductor indium oxide were combined with a multilayer of self-assembling organic molecules that provides superior insulating properties. The indium oxide films can be fabricated at room temperature, allowing the transistors to be produced at a low cost. And, in addition to being transparent, the transistors outperform the silicon transistors currently used in LCD screens and perform nearly as well as high-end polysilicon transistors.
The development of this technology might also mean that if desired, the electronic devices of the future will remain invisible until needed. This would change the way the offices and homes would look like and might also create a lot of problems concerning, for example, privacy.
Northwestern University (2006, December 23). New Research Could Lead To \'Invisible\' Electronics. ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com ¬ /releases/2006/12/061223092615.htm
American Chemical Society (2009, February 5). Toward \'Invisible Electronics\' And Transparent Displays. ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com ¬ /releases/2009/02/090204170129.htm
Opportunity: All kind of ubiquitous services would become possible
Threat: Privacy issues
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