Post-it note

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A pad of fan-folded Post-it pop-up notes, shown still glued together

A Post-it note (or simply Post-it), invented and 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 colors, shapes, and sizes, the most common size of Post-it note is a 3-in (7.5-cm) square, trademark canary yellow in color. 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 names Post-it and Post-it note—as well as the canary yellow color—are trademarks of 3M, the company which invented and manufactures them. Accepted generic terms for competitors include sticky notes or repositionable or repositional notes; nonetheless, Post-it note is frequently used as a generic term for any such product. 3M manufactures other products towards the Post-it note concept, leveraging the success of the brand. As Post-it have been driven towards computerized versions like Stickies or PtiMemo, 3M markets its own software under the name of 'Post-it software note'.

1 History
2 Post it today
3 Pop culture
4 References
5 External links

[edit] History

The idea of a low-tack adhesive note was conceived in 1974 by Arthur Fry as a way of retaining bookmarks in his hymnal while singing in his church choir. Fry's markers had fallen from his hymn book on multiple occasions. He was aware of an adhesive developed in 1968 by Spencer Silver, a 3M researcher, who, while attempting to design a strong adhesive, had instead developed one that was very weak. No immediate application was apparent and the adhesive remained unused until Fry's idea. 3M has a culture of promoting innovation and the idea was given backing; initial prototypes were available in 1977 and by 1980–1981, after a large sampling campaign, the product had been introduced around the world, being produced exclusively in Cynthiana, Kentucky.

[edit] Post it today

Since 2001, the glue used for Post-its has fallen into public domain and can be produced and marketed by other companies than 3M, lowering its price and making it even more popular. The term "Post-it" is still a trademark of 3M and cannot be used by any other company, whether for commercial use or not. Electronic versions of Post-it have since been developed as well, making it a universal concept. Since they cannot be marketed under the term "Post-it", they often use the term "Stickies" or "Ptimémo" (french).

[edit] Pop culture

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 on record.
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 sixth 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 and also uses them to communicate with his parents.
Seen affixed to the video monitor of the TARDIS in the renewed UK series Doctor Who (2005 Season).
Strong Bad, a character in the web cartoon Homestar Runner, is fond of post-it notes.