May 2 2008Xerox Paper That Erases Print In 24 Hours
Xerox has decided that, since people can't seem to stop printing things, and that wasted paper is environmentally unfriendly, they'd make a self-erasing paper product.
The paper contains specially coded molecules that create a print after being exposed to ultraviolet light emitted from a thin bar in a printer. The molecule readjusts itself within 24 hours to its original form to delete the print, or heat can readjust the molecule instantly.
Each page can be used up to 100 times provided you don't spill coffee on it, crumple it, or otherwise desecrate the paper in a way that would prevent from going through the printer again. Personally, I think this is brilliant, and a great way to save paper. Of course, I haven't heard a mention of cost, which is probably significantly higher than the paper's non-magical competition (regular damn paper). I just wish I had slipped a sheet of this in when my marriage certificate was being printed. You know, so I could be released from the chaffing bonds of this unholy matrimony.
UPDATE: Hmm, so it seems that this is old news, so I'm not sure what the hell this article was talking about. Oh well, hopefully you hadn't heard about it before (and that disappearing ink gag shit you used to spray on people as a kid doesn't count).
Xerox Spy Paper Will Self Destruct In 24 Hours [ohgizmo]
Reader Comments
1. BadKitty - May 2, 2008 3:00 PM
you already posted this, maybe a month or two ago... come on now.
2. shaunjon - May 2, 2008 4:25 PM
gheghe double post..
but yeah the people from compworld were behind on the latest technologie. they saw the self erasing paper on the showcase on the 28th of april.
3. Freddy K - May 2, 2008 4:37 PM
maybe it was posted earlier, but he just couldn't find the copy of it....
wow, that was even worse now that its written down than what I thought. oh well.
4. meanmofo - May 2, 2008 5:38 PM
I'm sure it's great for legal documents!
5. Dr_Freak - May 2, 2008 5:39 PM
Maybe the Geekology writer shouldn't have used the first one to roll that giant Marley...
6. SmokingGirl - May 3, 2008 12:01 AM
Have you hugged a tree today? I know I haven't.
7. poop - May 3, 2008 2:50 AM
if you needed a permanent copy of it, you could just copy it on regular paper before the time limit ran out.
8. Jason - May 3, 2008 4:06 PM
I wonder if it smells nice. Or bad. Like the triplicate white/yellow/pink paper that grade schools used to use in the 80's, or maybe they still do? Does anyone remember that smell?
9. v - May 4, 2008 10:47 AM
Imagine some jackass writing a suicide note on that thing.
10. Patricia - May 9, 2008 7:06 AM
I can see this ending badly for college students and post-grads...
"You handed in blank sheets of paper!"
"No i swear the paper must've faded the entire report"
"I'm sorry you've failed the $200,000 course which you now must pay for and can't practice *insert career of choice here*"
OR
imagine having your exams printed on this hehehehe it'd be an awesome prank.. oh shit, no one steal it, i'm claiming intellectual property rights, right now!
11. ecowriter - May 9, 2008 10:50 AM
I think it's brilliant, actually. Still if you are using regular paper like the rest of us, you might want to know how much trees and CO2 you can get away with saving: http://www.widgetbox.com/widget/eco-calculator.