Electrically Conductive Plastic Polymer

AustinSlacker writes to mention Fox news is reporting that a Dutch researcher is announcing a breakthrough in plastics. A new way of rebuilding plastics could allow them to conduct electricity just as well as the silicon wafers currently used in electronic gadgets. "Prins discovered that in plastics, the movement of electric charges was mainly hindered by the shape of the polymer, the chain-like molecular structure [that is] the basis of each kind of plastic. Prins extended the work of a German group that had reshaped a polymer to form a ladder-like structures. By bombarding the specially developed plastic with electrons from a particle accelerator, she was able to study rapid electrical reactions and demonstrate the new plastic's ability to conduct electricity much better than regular plastic and as well as silicon chips."

Computer of the future is near

[Jtheletter]

Ok, so in the last couple years or so we've seen the devlopment of: 1) electrically conductive plastics 2) transparent (when off) OLED-based displays, 3) transparent plastic-based circuits, 4) clear plastic-based batteries, 5) multitouch input capability, and 6) light-based data transfer methods and holographic data storage.

Within 10 years I hope to see all of these technologies combined into a geek fantasy device: a clear plastic tablet computer about the size of a pad of paper. Not to mention the hojillion other applications that suddenly become possible when you can embed a complete computer with I/O in a transparent medium: HUDs for glasses, store windows that are also dynamic advertising surfaces, image processing and data overlay on windshields (e.g. thermal or IR image data to augment the scene in poor visibility), etc.
I especially like the plastic battery concept since in theory you could make certain structural elements also function as you battery so there is no need for a bulky power source attached to the device, this would work well for the glasses display - the frames themselves could be the battery and/or processor. Although we'd definitely want to make sure there aren't any exploding battery incidents like with recent laptops.

Re:Computer of the future is near

[stratjakt]

Within 10 years I hope to see all of these technologies combined into a geek fantasy device: a clear plastic tablet computer about the size of a pad of paper.

Speak for yourself.

My fantasy device allows me to seduce any supermodel of my choosing, has rocket engines so it can fly, and 20 dollar bills come out the exhaust. It is also made of solid space gold (its not heavy) and the horn plays dixie and it sounds AWESOME!

That or an iPod.

duh

[Bill, Shooter of Bul]

If you had a choice between using a particle accelerator or a power supply, which would you use?

I hope to convince my office to move to the grounds of fermi lab, so I can have the choice as well.

Just have to remember to switch to conventional power supply before they start the experiments with anti matter.

Re:Computer of the future is near

[LiquidCoooled]

Are the suicide booths for the folks upset after having crufty Y front adverts subliminally beamed into their head overnight?

Myomer?

[Fireye]

Electrically conductive polymer leads to muscle-type plastic strads, which OBVIOUSLY in turn leads to the development of Battlemechs. So, when can I place my order for a Jenner, or maybe a nice big Battlemaster?

Re:Invented by a girl...

[Anonymous Coward]

I'd conduct her plastic, if you know what I mean.

How many points do I get?

From another article

[phorm]

by measuring the microwave absorption ... This avoided the need to use electrodes. Such electrodes often disrupt the measurement.

According to This [www.nwo.nl] article they avoided standard meters to gain better measurements.

Re:let me know when copper is an insulator.

[d0rp]

PS: Just be careful not to get electrocuted by your t-shirt (don't worry, I don't see a market for solar-powered underwear).

What about solar-powered swimsuits?

Re:let me know when copper is an insulator.

[I Like Pudding]

What about solar-powered swimsuits?

Is that your carbon offset or are you just happy to see me?