Post-it note

From Free net encyclopedia

A Post-it note (or just Post-it), manufactured by 3M, is a piece of stationery with a readherable strip of adhesive on the back, designed for temporarily attaching notes to documents, computer displays and so forth. While now available in a wide range of colours, shapes and sizes, the most common size of Post-it note is a 3-inch (7.5 cm) square, trademark canary yellow in colour. The notes use a unique low-tack adhesive that enables the Post-its to be easily attached and removed without leaving marks or residue. The name "Post-it" and "Post-it note" are trademarks of 3M, the company which invented and manufactures them. Accepted generic terms for competitors include "sticky notes" or "repositionable / repositional notes." 3M sells other products leveraging the Post-it brand, such as index flags, organizers, cards, bulletin boards, easel pads and wall pads.

1 History
2 Pop culture
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

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History

The original adhesive used in Post-it notes was invented in 1968 by Spencer Silver, a 3M researcher. While attempting to design a strong adhesive, he instead developed an adhesive that was very weak. No immediate application was apparent, until 1974 when a colleague, Arthur Fry, conceived of using the adhesive to create bookmarks while contemplating a hymnal in his church choir. Initial prototypes were available in 1977, and by 1980-1981, after a large sampling campaign, the product had been introduced around the world.

The original run of post-it notes were used as bookmarks for the aforementioned hymnal. The remainder were shown to 3M marketing dept. who rejected them as useless. Arthur Fry gave them to his secretary to dispose of, she instead found the classic use for them, and under Arthurs instruction distributed them to all the executive secretaries in the 3M office. Once the supply ran out, the sheer number of internal calls requesting more was re-directed to marketing, who finally took notice.

A more recent innovation is software that partly mimics the behaviour of Post-it notes on the computer desktop. Most of the current proprietary or open source packages limit the placement or "adhesion" of the virtual note to a fixed spot over or on the desktop, and a few permit sharing the notes through the Internet. Recent efforts like Project Looking Glass have striven towards features which give a virtual equivalence to the versatility of the tangible Post-it.

Post-It notes are available in a wide variety of sizes and formats. Standard pads have the adhesive stripe on one edge, like in book binding. In the mid 80's, 3M launched a fan-folded version of Post-It pads with the adhesive stripe on alternative sides. These pads can be installed on a dispenser and dispense one-at-a-time like disposable tissue.

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Pop culture

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

In 1993, Saturday Night Live featured a fake product called McIntosh Post-It Notes, a parody of the failed Apple Newton.
In the 1997 film Romy & Michele's High School Reunion, the two title characters attempt to re-invent themselves as successes to their former classmates by claiming to have invented Post-It notes.
In 2000 the 20th anniversary of Post-it notes was celebrated by having artists create their artwork on Post-it notes. One note that was made by artist R.B. Kitaj sold for $925 in an auction, making it the most valuable Post-it note in history.
In the 2003 film Bruce Almighty, Bruce makes all prayers materialize in the form of Post-It Notes, which cover every square inch of surface of the room he is in and everything in the room.
In the Showtime series Dead Like Me, Post-it notes are central to the plot of the show: the grim reapers receive their soul-taking assignments (first initial, last name, address, and estimated time of death) on Post-it notes. As a result, several characters are obsessed with Post-it notes.
In the fourth season of Sex and the City, lead character Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) is dumped by her boyfriend when he scribbles a message on a Post-it note.
In the 2003 Brad Anderson film The Machinist, the lead character is eventually led to the reason behind his insomnia and weight loss by a game of Hangman played on a Post-it note.
Post-it brand is a sponsor of NASCAR and Roush Racing, currently backing the #06 team of Roush Racing in the NASCAR Busch Series and Nextel Cup Series.
A figure on the poster and cassette cover for the 1999 film Office Space is covered from head to toe in Post-it notes, many with various messages.
Musician Elliott Smith's (alleged) suicide note was written on a Post-It.
As a prank in The Office (UK), David Brent (Ricky Gervais) tells Dawn Tinsley (Lucy Davis) that he will have to sack her for stealing Post-it notes. The prank backfires when Dawn breaks down in tears.
In the cartoon show Ed, Edd n Eddy , Edd uses Post-it notes to remind himself to buy more Post-it notes.