Electronics have become a necessity in our lives, but whether it is the increasingly functional cell phones, or office indispensable laptops or tablets, without exception, all need the keyboard as its keying device. In order to operate smoothly, increasingly compact and lightweight external Bluetooth keyboard is gradually favored by everyone, but the Bluetooth keyboard made of paper, have you ever seen?
In 2020, researchers at Purdue University developed a new technology and named it self-powered paper-based electronics (RF-SPE) that can be connected to a computer via Bluetooth. RF-SPE has the characteristics of water repellency, oil repellency and dust removal because it is coated with alkylated organosilanes, conductive nanoparticles, PTFE and ethyl cellulose in turn.
Touch the RF-SPE Bluetooth keyboard with your hand and the corresponding keyed numbers will appear on the computer screen. If on a paper keyboard, keys such as music play are added, then the volume can be adjusted by simply swiping your finger across the paper.
Clicking buttons such as toggle or mute also makes it easy to achieve the functions you want.
Although it is a paper keyboard, but the use of the time there is absolutely no need to worry about coffee or water spilled on the keyboard and lead to scrap, RF-SPE keyboard than the general keyboard waterproof effect is better, the liquid dripping on the keyboard, just a light wipe of paper towels, the surface is restored as new, will not affect the use at all.
This paper keyboard also features an innovative vertical pressure sensor that does not require any external power source and draws energy from finger presses. In layman's terms, as long as there is friction, these areas on the keyboard will be rubbed to generate electricity, the keyboard will be able to obtain a constant supply of electricity, according to the test paper surface per square centimeter can generate up to 300µW of power.
RF-SPE also has a good flexibility, in the folded radius of curvature of not less than 0.3mm, with excellent stability, take it out of the office without worrying that it will break, compact and lightweight at your disposal.
Since this technology is compatible with most processes for printing paper and is relatively inexpensive to produce, costing no more than $0.25 to print on a single sheet, we can easily convert conventional paper to smart paper quickly.
Imagine if this technology could be widely used, would laptops be thinner? With typing more readily available, would cloud data be fully prevalent?
In addition, RF-SPE technology can also be applied to more daily life, such as signing and receiving courier, signing documents and contracts, etc., so that the application of this technology becomes more widespread. So readers, what better ideas do you have about this technology?
Science and technology and inventions change lives. This black technology invention, the paper keyboard, may really play its great role in the future. We can look forward to the day when it makes its mark!
