The goal of this demonstration is to show things on a micro scale can effect what we see on a macro scale. Demonstrate that research is not just a result it's also a process.
The Procedure
The goal of this demonstration is to show things on a micro scale can effect what we see on a macro scale. Demonstrate that research is not just a result it's also a process.
Materials:
- Micro scale: E-Ink sign
- Macro-scale: Egg tray
- Bag of Black/white balls
- Flashcards with patterns
Procedure
Set-up:
- Have e-ink and macroscale demo out.
Doing the demonstration:
- Show visitors the E-ink sign. Ask them what they think it is. Have them look under the microscope to see what's happening. Explain that the people who make this hope it will be used just like paper - maybe even instead of paper. Ask the visitors "What else do the researcher's need to figure out to do before gyricon can replace paper?"
- Bring out the Magna –doodle. Explain that each ball they see under the microscope is filled with tinier white balls (with a and black balls. The tiny black balls get pulled to the top just like the iron filings an it makes it look dark. A curcuit with a charge is actually what brings the balls up.
- Have kids try to make different designs with the balls. Have them make their first initial.
Clean-up:
- Return all items to storage.
Explanation:
Really tiny microcapsules the diameter of a human hair have both black and white particles in them. The white particles have a positive charge so when you put a negative charge on the top they rise up while the black molecules sink. The black particles have a negative charge and get pulled up with a positive charge run over the top. Al the micro capsules are put on a piece of plastic and laminated to sheet of circuitry. It's the circuitry that changes the polarity and moves the particles to change the color. Eventually a printer should be able to print the microcapsules on the circuitry paper and you could make anything you want.
What could go wrong?
The worst thing here is that the batteries could go dead but they should last a year.
Procedure Sheet: eink_procedure.pdf
Electronic Ink FAQs
Electronic paper is made up of tiny balls that are white on one side and black on the other. The balls are sandwiched in between 2 sheets of rubbery plastic material. The balls can switch colors when they come close to a positive or negative charge. It is similar to when your hair is attracted to a balloon because of static cling.
Cool Facts:
Nick Sheridon at the Xerox Company discovered the original idea for electronic paper in 1973. Signs made from electronic paper have already been used at major department stores like J.C. Penny's and Macy's. Other current uses for electronic paper include displays for cell phones and personal organizers as well as watches and other portable electronics. A future use for electronic paper is to make an electronic book that can hold the entire Library of Congress.
A: Electronic paper is still in its experimental stages and is not available to the general public. Only two companies currently make electronic paper – Gyricon and E-Ink. Currently, both Gyricon and E-ink only sell the paper directly to companies that want to make products like cell phone screens or store signs.
A: There are many differences between electronic paper and a computer. One example is that electronic paper does not need batteries once the words are written on the page. Electronic paper is very light and flexible like regular paper, so that it can be taken almost anywhere. It is also easier to read words on electronic paper than it is to read words on a computer.
Paper is a material that has many uses in our daily lives. It is so common that if you look around your house, you could find hundreds of things that are made out of paper. Although paper is a very useful product, there are some problems that come from using paper too much. Since so many people use paper everyday, it becomes difficult to dispose of all of it. This causes problems with the environment. Another issue with paper is that is it easily destroyed. Many important books and documents are lost every year because paper can burn, tear, get wet or fall apart. Due to these problems, material scientists have been doing research to make a different type of paper that is reusable and strong, so that it creates less waste and cannot be destroyed easily. The result of all of this research has been the introduction of electronic paper!