Who
would have thought that a lizard would trigger a revolution in the tech world?
AD: Hi, back from your walk?
BC: Yes! The cool breeze, the sunrise, the
sight of the frothy waves - it’s probably why poets are so much in love with nature…
AD: Well, even the tech world has
constantly sought inspiration from nature.
BC: How? By making computers hibernate?
AD: Very funny! You must have noticed the Catseye
road reflectors during your early morning walks… They were inspired by the way
the cat’s eyes reflect light in absolute darkness...
BC: I bet the mouse was one such
inspiration too. Once you get one into your room, there’s no getting rid of it…
AD: You’re the only person in the world who
can look at an airplane flying overhead and think of bird dropping.
BC: C’mon, I was just referring to the
current generation’s obsession with technology…
AD: I don’t think that’s a new fad – it has
existed from the time man stuck a pair of wings on himself and tried to fly…
Besides, look at your shoes. The Velcro…
BC: I’ve read about how George de Mestral
was intrigued by the way seeds with burrs latched on to his trousers. He then designed
a texture that would replicate it.
AD: It’s not just plants – even the gecko
has impressed scientists...
BC: Apparently geckos don’t blink – could
that result in flicker-free monitors?
AD: Why don’t you try adjusting your screen
refresh rate to minimise flicker? On the subject of geckos, I was referring to
their incredible climbing abilities…
BC: Imagine how eerie it would be to watch
a laptop climb on to the table by itself…
AD: Don’t be ridiculous, I was talking
about robots that can climb any surface. Another big development has been a
special kind of tape that works without any adhesive, and yet sticks…
BC: So it wouldn’t leave any marks on paper
or on walls…
AD: That’s right, and scientists have even
demonstrated its adhesive strength by suspending humans and objects from it.
BC: No humans please, the last thing the
world needs is a Geckoman franchise, courtesy Hollywood.
AD: Too late – Spiderman has an archenemy
known as Lizard who has gecko-like climbing skills too.
BC: Pardon the pun, but why can’t we just
stick to Sellotape or Scotch Tape?
AD: This new product can make a huge
difference across different fields… It can replace sutures in surgeries to bind
the area operated upon. It could also be used as a medicine patch – just stick
it on the body to dispatch medicine to a specific part.
BC: If it can replace vaccine injections, the
man who makes it happen would be a hero to every kid because he would have achieved
what even Superman couldn’t – take the pain out of childhood.
AD: Absolutely! The industrial segment is
equally excited because now, anti-skid will take on a new meaning. Suddenly,
driving on roads caked with ice will no longer be a challenge…
BC: What about industrial adhesives? It
could spell relief for workers – they wouldn’t have to spend desperate evenings
trying to get industrial glue off their hands…
AD: It could also be used to improve safety
devices for workers who work in high altitudes…
AD: What for?
BC: After each Olympic event, we hear about
how a medal went out of our grasp - maybe gecko tape could fix that…
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