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From: epmp09@castle.ed.ac.uk (J Hearns)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: force--feedback fluids
Message-ID: <13440@milton.u.washington.edu>
Date: 24 Dec 90 12:15:11 GMT
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Re the recent posting about force--feedback systems
and fluids which change properties on bing subjected to
electric fields.
I beleive these are called electro-rheologic materials.
Lotus uses them in its new generation of active suspension.
I have seen film of a fluid which is held between two planar electrodes,
then falls away when the current is switched off.
There are also magnetic fluids which move inresponse to magnetic fields 
( they have very fine magnetic particles in suspension, and are
used to make specialised bearings I beleive).
For more info, your best bet is probably Scientific American -
I dimly remember an article on this stuff.
 
Happy Christams all!