# Magnetic paper **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 28, 2003, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-paper/221338 "2003-12-28T00:20:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-paper/221338/1 "2003-12-28T00:20:09Z")
I remember seeing once, on Tech TV I think it was (or maybe it was when it was called ZD-TV), about a new kind of paper that was being developed. From what I remember, it was made up of rows of metal or magnetic beads, one side was light, the other was dark. When the “pen” was run over the paper it would attract the beads which would roll over and give the appearance of writing. If anybody remembers seeing the same show, or if you know what I’m trying to describe, I’d like to know what this is called and/or who’s developing it. And yes, I tried looking it up on Google, but with no success. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-paper/221338/2 "2003-12-28T00:29:09Z")
[Smart Paper](http://www.thecabal.org/gurps/rareitems/smart.html) ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-paper/221338/3 "2003-12-28T00:33:00Z")
Outstanding! Only a few seconds to get an answer, thanks ftg 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Iteki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eada6e/32.png) [@Iteki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iteki)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-paper/221338/4 "2003-12-28T01:15:41Z")
Mind you, that page is explaining how to use Smart Paper as a part of a roleplaying game. The relevant info for you is at the very bottom of that page under “Existing Technology”. ---
**Author:** ![sibyl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9e5f3/32.png) [@sibyl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sibyl)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-paper/221338/5 "2003-12-28T01:40:57Z")
There have been childrens toys that employ this technology for years! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-paper/221338/6 "2003-12-28T03:42:56Z")
What can I say. I have friends at PARC, like to throw some cites their way. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-paper/221338/7 "2003-12-28T05:56:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Iteki \* > \*\*Mind you, that page is explaining how to use Smart Paper as a part of a roleplaying game. The relevant info for you is at the very bottomThanks. I see what I was looking for was [Gyricon](http://www2.parc.com/dhl/projects/gyricon/) of that page under “Existing Technology”. \*\* ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-paper/221338/8 "2003-12-28T05:58:21Z")
Oops, let’s try that again. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Iteki \* > \*\*Mind you, that page is explaining how to use Smart Paper as a part of a roleplaying game. The relevant info for you is at the very bottom of that page under “Existing Technology”. \*\* Thanks. I see what I was looking for was [Gyricon](http://www2.parc.com/dhl/projects/gyricon/)