Ok, now I thought of this about a week after I first learned of the technology..

Some university (And I can't remeber which, nor can I find it as it's been buried in google) brought to light a technology for a "printable display" - literally; pixels could be "printed" on any surface. (I'm waiting to be able to put it as my livingroom wallpaper, for one)

So, one could take this technology, print it onto the base coat of a car, slather 10 layers of clearcoat on it, then wire it to the in-car computer.

Not only could you do such mundane things as change the colour of your car on the fly with the touch of a button, but you could plug in animations.

The flames on a car never looked so cool!

Not only that, but howabout car-wide visualizations for what is coming out of the stereo?

And what about sticking a camera on each side of the car, then broadcasting the live video to the other side of the car? Instant semi-invisibility.

Now tell me this doesn't have a million uses. [ the prinatble display, not the car idea ]

P.s. I remember where I saw it at least; Scientific American. Unfortunately, the archive on their site is not sufficient for me to be able to find it... If anyone can help out, it would be much appreciated. :)
-- JackandJohn, Mar 21 2003

car: paint job http://www.halfbake...ar_3a_20Paint_20Job
[phoenix, Oct 05 2004, last modified Oct 17 2004]

Color Changing Car http://www.halfbake...or_20Changing_20Car
[phoenix, Oct 05 2004, last modified Oct 17 2004]

Microtech forum 2002 http://www.taga.org/microtech/agenda.asp
Features slots on both printable circuits and displays. [st3f, Oct 05 2004, last modified Oct 17 2004]

*Ahem* <request compliance> This doesn't have a million uses.</request compliance>

Post a link to the underlying tech and you'll get yourself a crescent.
-- ato_de, Mar 22 2003


The technology's not as new as JackandJohn thinks. There was a commercial conference which featured a slot on it last year (link) and various manufacturers are working on products based on printable displays. Google on "eink" and you'll get more than you can deal with. Some might even be relevant.
-- st3f, Mar 22 2003


[st3f] I know the technology isn't new.. I said I thought about this a week after I heard of it.. That was a while ago and I just never got around to posting it :)
-- JackandJohn, Mar 31 2003


There is a new company that has a color changing paint that changes with temperature. Any color combination, and can be set to change at different temperatures. http://www.trippininc.com
-- cegallo, Jun 12 2004


[cegallo] Beh; I'm not talking moodpaint like a cheap moodring.. All that would mean is that your hood and back end would be a different colour than the rest of the car body. (see: cheezy fad of mood shirts back in the 80s)

I'm talking about something controlled by a pc - press a couple buttons for a large emblem, press another for a pure black car, etc.

The police would HATE it, but that's completely not the point :)

But; thanks for the info :)
-- JackandJohn, Jul 14 2004


Really, every paint seller out there has the same paints as trippin inc. There is one thing we all have in common: no one has been able to make it last more than a year in the sun. There are roofers calling me all the time to see if they can make the black roof that turns white when it gets hot. The big question is how do we give it 100% UV protection to keep it "alive". Alsa has a sunscreen clear that I recommend with my color change pigment, but they are only promising a year.
-- paintwithpearl, Jul 23 2008



random, halfbakery