Printable Sensors to Detect Fingers without Touching
From: Engineer Live - 03/01/2010

The European Union 3Plast research consortium plans to develop sensors that
can be printed onto plastic film and attached to everyday objects. The
sensors are being designed to respond to changes in temperature and pressure,
which would enable them to detect the movement of a finger. "The sensor is
combined with an organic transistor, which strengthens the sensor signal,"
says project leader Gerhard Domann. Researchers have already printed sensors
onto film, and are now optimizing transistors that can amplify changes in
temperature and pressure. "By providing everyday objects with information
about their environment - for example, whether a person is approaching - by
means of pressure and temperature sensors, we can create and market new
devices that can be controlled just by pointing a finger," Domann says. It
will likely take several years to print sensors on large surfaces, he says. 

Read the entire article at:
http://www.engineerlive.com/Electronics-Engineer/Electronics_Design/Printable_sensors_to_detect_fingers_without_touching/22432/

Links:
3PLAST
http://www.3plast-sensor.eu/

Printable sensors from EU project 3Plast
http://www.nanowerk.com/news/newsid=15087.php

Straight to the point
http://www.theengineer.co.uk/news/news-analysis/straight-to-the-point/1001257.article