Imagine this. You drove your car to office and find no place to park. You press a switch and the car changes into a suitcase. Won’t that be simply awesome? Right out of a “Futuristic Sci-Fi” movie isn’t it? Not if the scientists at the Carnegie Mellon University have a say on it. Imagine a watch or a necklace that changes into something else when you take it off. Perhaps it becomes a cell phone, or tablet PC. This and much more will soon become reality with a ground-breaking new technology known as “Claytronics”.

Last week we brought to you news about inform, developed by scientists at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Now in response to that, Scientists at Carnegie Mellon University in collaboration with Intel Research Labs Pittsburgh have developed “Claytronics”, a programmable matter system. They are just a few more years away from bringing a futuristic simulation system that can change nearly any object into another with any size, shape, color and function into reality. The phenomenon that makes this astonishing system possible includes millions of extremely tiny micro-processors called ‘claytronic’ atoms, or 'catoms', which interact with each other. They are called atoms as they are the most elemental building blocks of the objects they are programmed to change into.

Futurists group have discussed the many possible & varied benefits of “claytronics”. The flexibility that will arise from being able to 'program and change' the world around us would affect everything that is important from the human perspective; especially our safety and well being. For example, in case of risky situations; programmable clothing can become stronger than steel, while still maintaining its essence. Sensing danger, these 'smart clothes' could also form a type of impenetrable shield that could stop bullets and knives from piercing our skin; or become cushion-like substance to protect us from auto accidents or falls.

Expanding this line of thinking, The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is considering “claytronic” systems that will allow combat equipments and uniforms to change shape automatically. An all weather/terrain uniform and an all- scenario combat equipment. Remember the ‘Liquefying Robot’ from Terminator2 or the shape-shifting robot from Transformers series?

There is almost no end to the magic that this technology could create. “Claytronics” will also reduce the number of furniture’s at our home. A dinner table can be changed to a sofa or a snooker table and later on into a bed at night. In addition, a living room could be used as a dining area and/or bedroom, simply by morphing furniture at different times.

However, the biggest benefit ‘Claytronics’ may be in the field of communications. Most people worldwide use video-conferencing. Think Skype; but instead of viewing each other on a screen, you can touch, share meals, or hug, as if you are physically together.

Intel Labs Senior Researcher Jason Campbell says - "By the year 2020, programmable matter will be ready to deliver at least small innovations like the bracelet-phone concept.”

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