CWLee wrote:

During WWII there was a substance available on Navy ships,
in tape form, that one could place by light switches or
other items one might want to locate in the dark (like a
flashlight). This tape somehow absorbed light during the
day, and at night gave off a faint glow, sufficient to be
seen in a dark room.

This is called phosphorescence.

Is there anything like that available today - in either
paint or tape form - that one can use for such purposes in
the home?

Yes, google phosphorescent tape :
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...pe&btnG=Search

or phosphorescent paint :
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...nt&btnG=Search

Thanks.


See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luminous_paint for a discussion
of Fluorescent vs. Phosphorescent vs. Radioluminescent