It is an office tool that has risen to the top of the ranks of popularity right alongside the desktop PC. And like that high-tech device, it helps millions of busy workers communicate with each other, organize information, and keep track of important dates and reminders.
And it never needs to be plugged in to work.
Twenty-five years ago this week(Yahoo! News) 3M began selling its Post-it Notes, a simple yet innovative creation that still offers tons of utility in a now-digital world. Look around any home or office and these removable, self-sticking notes are likely highlighting important documents or festooned around computer monitors to remind people of online passwords or other important bits of PC info.
It's the simplicity and accessibility of Post-its are still big draws for many people.
According to 3M, some of the more memorable Post-its particulars of the last 25 years:
* Last October, 75,000 Post-its were used to create the world's largest pink ribbon for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The sticky notes, placed on an outdoor billboard 18 stories above New York's Times Square, hung around for the entire month.
* In December 2000, artist R.B. Kitaj created a charcoal and pastel drawing on an ordinary Post-it. It sold for $925 in an online charity auction and created a Guinness World Record for most valuable sticky note.
* In 1998, a survey conducted by the Gallup Organization and the Institute for the Future found that the average worker receives 11 messages a day on Post-its. (sounds a little high to me but whatever...)
* In 1996, one Post-it survived a trip from Las Vegas to Minneapolis - accidentally stuck to the nose of a jet plane.
It was intended as a reminder for the Las Vegas ground crew. Essentially it lasted speeds of 500 miles per hour and temperatures of minus 56 degrees.
The secret to Post-its' lasting success is the unique glue discovered by 3M scientist Spence Silver in 1968. Silver's colleague, Art Fry, then put the residue-free adhesive to good use: as sticky bookmarks for his church hymnals. From that small practical application, Post-its were born and 3M has stuck with them ever since.
