Cuttlefish are one of the most intelligent creatures in the sea, able to change their shape and color to escape predators -- but, they aren't smart enough to escape us, and they taste good, so they also go great with risotto. Scientists at MIT, however, decided not to eat their cuttlefish, instead using them to inspire the tech inside a new type of highly-efficient display. The screen is just one micron thick and contains a layer of poly-2 vinyl. Left alone it's clear but, when exposed to an electrical charge, its thickness and reflectivity can be controlled to create color. Just a few volts are required to form an image but, like
e-ink, its design means backlighting is not an option. Viewing angles are also quite poor at this point, so this is one display tech that may take a long time to belly up at retail. Master of disguise video after the break.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Deathwish238 @ May 15th 2009 12:03PM
Cuttlefish are pretty cool, they're similar to squid...just even weirder. Although apparently they can communicate with their tentacles and colors...which is pretty amazing imo.
I was wondering the other day when we would research cuttlefish to learn about their camo, looks like MIT had already been thinking it.
This has potential!
plonk420 @ May 18th 2009 3:30AM
mmm Cuttlefish ... OHM NOM NOM NOM