Copper wire maker FlatWire Technologies claims it has pre-empted the need for complex, expensive new wireless technologies--such as 60-GHz wireless personal area networks (WPAN)--with a simpler, cheaper solution that is available today. As a division of North America's biggest manufacturer of electrical wire and cable--Southwire Company (Carrollton, Ga.)--FlatWire claims to solve the same problems as WPAN, such as cutting the clutter behind equipment and obviating the need to pull cable through walls, with flat copper wiring that is glued to walls and ceilings, then made nearly invisible with a simple coat of spackle and paint. FlatWire--composed of thin strips of copper encapsulated in transparent insulators--was recently written into the National Electric Code (NEC), thereby making it eligible for widespread adoption. FlatWire is currently undergoing the voluntary listing process with Underwriters Laboratory (UL), which is expected to be completed by the end of 2008.
Text: http://www.eetimes.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=206904432
