Smart Materials

• Organic compound
• low running cost
• low power consumption 
• ideal for subtle back lighting 
• can form high impact images
• can appear animated
•  water proof
• can be sandwiched together or produced as wire or strips. 

• has colour limitations
• high cost to initially set up
• low tech compared to LCD's
• background effects only

• used in electronic books
• a pixel is a tiny pit containing a number of black and white beads which are charged positively and negativel. each pit has a transparent electrode on top and two at its base. 
• altering the charge on the base electrodes makes either the white or black beadl leap to the top of the pit forming either a blank or black spot on the large display. 

• electronic paper was developed to overcome limitations of computer monitors 
• lightweight
• durable
• flexible 

• piezoelectric crystal converts mechanical stress or vibration into electrical vibrations. 
• expands and contracts when an electric current is applied. 
• used in musical greetings cards 

• used in forehead thermometres, battery test panels and special printing effects. 
• a layer of conductive ink is screen printed on to the reverse of the thermometer ***** - this makes contact with the forehead. ontop of the conductive bar is a layer of normal ink that conveys the temperature gauge colour bar. then there is a thermochromic which is black in colour when cool. 
• by pressing the bar on the forehead the temperature generated turns the thermochromic ink translucent - revealing the temperature gauge colour bars.

• absorbs energy or 'charge' in normal daytime conditions and are capable of storing that energy for some time, then releasing it slowly in the form of light 
• non radioactive materials 
• can be manufactured into paints or inks to make safety signage and watch faces that can be seen in complete darkness. 

• RFID is a method of identification that uses tags stuck on to a product to store data that can be retrived by a reader. 
• RFID technology is based on the transmission and reception of radio frequency (RF) signals between a transmiter and a responder/tag attatched to a product. 

This method is often used to track products from the manufacturer to the retailer. 

It also has applications in libraries, a tag is used on a book to identify the book and lender and isuseful as a security measure to stop books from being stolen. 

RFIDs can also be used in livestock management.