Golden Shellback waterproofing defies water, reality

We're usually pretty jaded when people tell us that we "won't believe" what we're seeing in a video sent to tips -- right, right, a cellphone demon, nice one -- but it sure seems like the Golden Shellback waterproof coating is the real deal. Developed at the Northeast Maritime Institute and hopefully headed to production sometime soon, the process involves applying the coating to your precious toys inside a vacuum, after which they're basically impervious to all liquids -- in one test, a coated device spent over 450 hours powered on and functional underwater. There are some downsides: you can't remove the coating, so any repairs will involve "abrasive methods," which sounds like quite a commitment. That said, we'll take a little abrasion in our lives if it means we never have to worry about spilling on our keyboards ever again. Video after the break.

[Via gCaptain]

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 23rd 2008 12:09AM]

...or they just used distilled water.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 23rd 2008 12:45AM]

what happens to the headphone jack? if you cover that no sound and if u dont water goes thru?

[shawalli Posted Jul 23rd 2008 10:37AM]

especially if wireless energy can ever get off the ground. all they have right now is vibration sensitive charging, which is kind of a work around to the solution

[shawalli Posted Jul 23rd 2008 10:38AM]

refer to ScottishDan's comment a few posts up

[zabbawack Posted Jul 23rd 2008 9:18AM]

But does it blend?

[dosguy Posted Jul 23rd 2008 1:28AM]

Paralene-coated circuit boards can be troubleshot using sharp-tipped probes and meter leads and an Exacto-type knife. Needless to say, this is not for the faint of heart.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 23rd 2008 2:49AM]

Don't believe what you see. I recently was given a demonstration by 3M about a product for extinguishing fires that would protect our computers. It is a chemical that is not conducive to electricity, so the demonstrater put his plugged in Treo into the liquid, pulled it out and was able to use it no problems. The chemical looked just like water. You could also put paper in it and it would come out dry. Crazy stuff.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 23rd 2008 3:57AM]

Hey... that's my laptop they're pouring water on! Why couldn't they use a Mac or somethin :P jk

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 23rd 2008 4:05AM]

Meh, not impressed, my dive watch computer been doing that for years.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 24th 2008 4:43AM]

Unfortunately i found my ipod touch in the washing machine on monday night. Suffice to say it is now broken. I opened it and left it to dry but to no sucess.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 23rd 2008 5:57AM]

OMG! the best thing since sliced bread.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 23rd 2008 8:25AM]

Uhm, yeah..
http://www.gdargaud.net/Humor/Pics/WheresMyMouse.jpg

[Kueller Posted Jul 23rd 2008 8:40AM]

When the host talks about the VHF radio they ran for 450 hours under water he says they had to replace the battery contacts due to corrosion damage so obviously battery contacts, charging ports, headphone ports ect won't be covered, and with extended exposure to water would have to be replaced. But it shouldn't be an issue with just occasional splashes. You might even be apply a temporary coating (wax/grease?) to keep contacts safe while under water.

Bet the Deadliest Catch crew will be getting their cameras coated with this stuff asap.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 23rd 2008 9:36AM]

Seems more like this is what's going on:

http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/04/14/1621235&mode=thread&tid=126&tid=134

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 23rd 2008 10:13AM]

Wait a minute -- what about the cellphone demon??

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 23rd 2008 12:20PM]

So, wait. Now we can see if the iPhone floats. And if it floats, it must be a witch and we should burn all of them. Crap, sorry Apple fans. Hate to put you through this.

[Willstar Posted Jul 23rd 2008 1:04PM]

Sounds like it might be Parylene... amazing stuff. also the touch screen is projective capacitive - doesn't require current to 'flow'... however the system does need to be able to detect a change in capacitance so not sure if it would work under water that well? How would the screen know the difference between you and the water...? especially as you're mostly water!

[Willstar Posted Jul 23rd 2008 1:10PM]

... Sorry, by Parylene I mean Parylene coating... we have a local firm that does it here... I was toying with the idea of coaing the entire contents of my PC then running it in a tropical fish tank (using the processor and graphics ICs as the heating elements)...

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 23rd 2008 2:17PM]

Now is is something I can use. I've lost 3 phones to maritime tragedy's. Kind of surprising it will be marketed to consumers rather than manufacturers though.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 1st 2008 6:45PM]

Finally! ... Porn in the shower!!!!!!!!

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 1st 2008 3:44PM]

yay! pR0n in teh showersz