Chicago (IL) – Xerox plans on showing off its much touted self-erasing paper at the Wired NEXTFEST event in Chicago this week.  The paper works much like normal inkjet paper, but the text erases itself after 16 to 24 hours.  While this may not sound that great to home users, XEROX claims approximately 40% of all office printouts are temporary and discarded the same day they are printed.

The paper is coated with chemicals that produce text when hit with light from a certain wavelength.  Over time, air and regular light slowly degrade the text until the paper becomes basically a “clean slate” again.  Theoretically, you can then pop the paper back into the printer for another print job.

In addition to reducing waste, these documents could also serve well for the printing of confidential documents.  Hmmm… reminds me of the spy paper and disappearing ink sales ads you would often see in comic books and magazines back in the 1970s and 80s.

We will be attending NEXTFEST and will be brining you the very latest pictures and information about the XEROX self-erasing paper.

Read more … Xerox

Bravo!

Sep 26, 2008 23:14     

Bravo Xerox! It's totally true about the 40% (if not more!) wasted paper in offices and if the paper works as advertised, it'd be a tree-saver.
M'ichal report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +1

Just don't select the wrong paper tray

Sep 26, 2008 23:40     

R. Moose report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

ZOMG!

Sep 26, 2008 23:42     

I used the wrong paper and my comment is blank! =P J/K The problem will be with documents that you need to turn over to someone, lets say a receipt or a coupon. Unless the paper is specifically marked as being the type that erases itself, it could cause a lot of issues.
R. Moose report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -1

This would be great for...

Sep 27, 2008 00:52     

Companies that don't want secrets to get out government agencies could do the same. I print out some stuff that I need to print out that I only need for a few hours or so. So this would be great for me.
ThomFrost report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +1

Checks

Sep 27, 2008 10:21     

I want to get some of this stuff and send em checks fed-ex. It just needs to stay inked till the billing department clears my bill... heh...
MorituriMax report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -1

And the printers...?

Sep 29, 2008 06:07     

Don't forget to mention that you'll need to buy special (e.g. expensive) Xerox printers that emit light at such wavelengths. On the other hand, you won't need to buy HP's special (e.g. expensive) printer ink! As for security, I wouldn't doubt the paper will leave some faint evidence of what was printed before it erased. I would recommend caution, and perhaps proper erasing, such as printing the entire page (similar to properly erasing a hard-drive).

nke report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +1