Visual and electronically readable temperature indicator

A visually and electronically readable temperature indicator comprising:

• an electric circuit having a microchip and a bridge within the circuit;
• and
• a facing material over the electric circuit having a transparent window or an absorbent material over at least a portion of the bridge;
• wherein the bridge comprises:
• a base layer comprising a conductive material and a first binder;
• and
• a top layer applied over the base layer, the top layer comprising a phase change material having a pre-selected melt temperature, a colorant, and a second binder;
• wherein the colorant is soluble in the phase change material and/or is a special effect pigment;
• wherein at temperatures below the pre-selected melt temperature, the bridge has an original electrically conductive state, and at a temperature at or above the pre-selected melt temperature, the phase change material melts and dilutes the conductive material, thereby rendering the bridge non-conductive or less conductive than the original electrically conductive state and a color change occurs that is visible to a user through the transparent window or in the absorbent material.