Ep 13. Electric Paint

The Henry Ford's Innovation Nation season 1 episode 13 features an exciting invention called Electric Paint. This invention has the ability to transform any surface into a circuit board. The episode showcases how Electric Paint works and provides a glimpse into its various applications.

The host, Mo Rocca, begins the episode by highlighting the importance of innovation in our daily lives and how it has changed our world. He then introduces Electric Paint, a fascinating invention that can turn almost any surface into a conductive material. The episode then dives into how Electric Paint works, and its functionality that is very similar to the traditional paint.

The inventor of Electric Paint, Bare Conductive, explains how the paint is created by combining graphite particles with a liquid base. The mixture is then applied to a surface, and once it dries, it can conduct electricity. Rocca explains that this opens up a world of possibilities, especially for inventors who want to create custom circuits or even interactive artwork.

The episode then showcases how Electric Paint has been used in various applications. One of the examples includes a project where an inventor used Electric Paint to create a musical poster. By painting a circuit on a paper poster and connecting it to a speaker through a microcontroller, the poster was able to play music when touched or with the help of a stylus.

Another example demonstrated in the episode includes a company who utilises Electric Paint to create custom-designed keyboards. The paint was applied to a piece of paper, with keys printed on top. This keyboard was then connected to a computer through a microcontroller, and the user could type away, with the keyboard functioning just like a regular keyboard.

The episode also highlights a company that is using Electric Paint for promotional purposes. They created a billboard and painted the design using Electric Paint. The billboard, when touched, would light up the design, creating an interactive and engaging experience for the audience.

Throughout the episode, Rocca also interviews a few scientists and researchers who showcase their experiments with Electric Paint. One remarkable invention showcased was a prosthetic arm, where the circuit for the muscles was made using Electric Paint. This allowed for the prosthetic to move more naturally and be more sensitive to the user's needs.

Finally, the episode also explores the future possibilities of Electric Paint. Rocca speaks with a researcher who is working on incorporating Electric Paint into fabrics. This could potentially lead to clothes that can monitor vital signs such as heart rate, temperature and even GPS location.

Overall, the episode is an exciting exploration of the diverse possibilities of Electric Paint. It showcases how this innovation can revolutionise different fields such as music, art and even medicine. The practical applications demonstrated in the episode provide a glimpse of how this invention can change the world and the way we interact with it.