Swedish Scientists Make Talking Billboard

It might seem like fiction, but the fact is stranger: Scientists have made talking paper.   It’s happened at Mid Sweden University,where researchers have created a billboard that speaks when touched. Currently just in prototype, the display uses conductive inks that respond to the pressure of speech, and printed speakers to playa recorded message.   The paper itself is actually digital, with the relays sandwiched between a later of cardboard and the paper on which the design is printed. For their first display, thescientists made a travel poster.   “When you approach the billboard and put your hand on a postcard that shows a picture of a beach, you can hear a very brief description of thatbeach,” explained Mikael Gulliksson, who headed up the project.   Perhaps unsurprisingly, at the moment such displays are very expensive, but the scientists are looking into ways to slashproduction costs, as well as make the technology smaller, so it can eventually be used in packaging. One of their ideas is to have cigarette packets with a spoken warning.   Initially, though,they expect to make displays for use in stores. Currently the boards that make up a talking display are not only costly, but complex to assemble and replace.   So, in a few years, ifyou’re walking along and your child says the cereal talked to him, don’t be surprised. It probably did.