What with text messaging, Twitter and Facebook, you might think that we had exhausted all the latest ways to communicate without speaking. Think again, because soon you might prefer to use an 鈥渋nfofuse鈥�.
Infofuses are a bit like a multi-coloured version of Morse code. A message is encoded as a series of dots and dashes on a simple strip of paper. The dots and dashes are composed of three alkali metals 鈥� lithium, rubidium and caesium 鈥� each of which burns with a characteristic colour (see image). Once ignited, the flame creeps along the fuse and burns each dot in turn, generating a sequence of differently coloured lights.
In order to transmit messages using the system, at Harvard University and colleagues developed a code for the alphabet, numbers and four special characters (a full-stop, comma, exclamation mark and the 鈥淍鈥� sign) based on the presence or absence of one of the three metals in each dot.
Advertisement
Message to mom
Extra coding information comes from the length of the dot, which determines the duration with which it burns, and the space between dots, where no colour is produced.
They placed dots of each metal on nitrocellulose paper using an ordinary ink-jet printer and ignited the strip. Using an optical detector to 鈥渞ead鈥� the colours as the paper burned, they were able to transmit the message: 鈥淟ook mom no electricity鈥�.
The researchers say storing information in a chemical form is widespread in biology: in the way proteins are generated from the genome, for instance.
鈥淭his combination of information technology and chemistry provides unusual strategies for communication and data storage with the potential for important practical applications,鈥� says from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, who was not involved with the study. 鈥淭his bio-inspired idea of using molecules themselves as a form of information technology could lead to entirely new classes of devices,鈥� he says.
Flare for words
The authors already have big plans for the infofuse. 鈥淲e think it could be of use as a type of signal flare,鈥� says at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, who worked on the project.
鈥淲hen people are stranded, regular flares only give you a couple of options: 鈥業鈥檓 in trouble鈥�; 鈥業鈥檓 OK鈥�,鈥� says Thomas. 鈥淚nfofuses could be used to transmit a more informative message such as, 鈥楬ow many people are there?鈥� and 鈥榃e are hurt鈥�.鈥�
Infofuses might also be useful in any place where electricity is unavailable. 鈥淥nce you light this thing it鈥檚 self-powered until it runs out of fuel,鈥� says Thomas.
He adds that the team will also consider manipulating commercial fuse chords that have the ability to burn underwater, to create an infofuse that can be used as an alternative underwater communication system.
Journal reference:
