a dynamically configurable electrode includes a first planar electrode and a planar array of pixels in a different plane , wherein a polarizable liquid medium is to reside in the gap between electrodes . the pixels are individually addressable by a time - varying voltage , and adjacent pixels receive , at any instant in time , either the same voltage waveform or a different voltage waveform . adjacent pixels receiving different voltage waveforms generate corresponding movement of dipolar entities , including dipolar particles , ions , or dipolar molecules in the polarizable liquid medium between the electrodes , which can in turn generate fluid flow and movement of particles suspended in the fluid along the planar array surface .