Smart Skin? We knew technology was advancing at an
incredible pace, but did you ever think there would be such a thing as smart skin?
The iSkin wearable patch, similar to the wearable skin that
is created for robots and artificial limbs, is a silicon patch that is soft,
flexible and can be worn anywhere on the body. The tattoo like look of the
iSkin can be easily customized, designed, and changed at a little to no cost.
The design is than cut from “silicone and laced with carbonized
black powder in order to give it conductive properties. After being sandwiched
between two other sheets of transparent biocompatible silicone, the patch is
then fixed to the body with a regular cosmetic adhesive.” For now the device
must be hardwired to a computer to work, but the researchers say that it could
easily be made wireless and hopefully someday use the human body as its own power
source. This new technology hopes to give its users a unique way to
control their electronic devices. The iSkin wearable patch is under research at
the Max Planck Institute for Informatics. Due to money
constraints further research will not be conducted, but the researchers are in
hope that their discovers will be a stepping-stone to further research.
The thought of being able to control
one of my electronic devises by touching my arm, hand, ear, or any other part
of my body is something that intrigues me. I could see the iSkin being a useful
tool for a speaker or a teacher, really anyone who uses a PowerPoint. The iSkin
would give the speaker the opportunity to talk or work with their hands and
still have the ability to change a slide in a subtle desecrate way. On a daily
basis this technology could be used for things such as turning up music or
changing a song on one’s smart phone. In the long run I believe that the
technology that has been developed will open many doors and may even become a
stepping-stone to creating a skin technology that can draw vital signs or take
blood presser.
In what ways do you think the
technologies that these researchers are exploring could be used? Would you be
interested in owning an iSkin?
This idea definitely excites me as well. As an athlete i think about the possibility of going on a run with a cool Nike styled iSkin and being able to control it on my arm without it sliding off or being ruined by my sweat. The different styles i think is what will attract a large crowd especially with it tattoo like appeal. I believe people are always looking for ways to flaunt and display their individuality. Fashion, tattoos wearable material are all huge parts of showing their uniqueness.
ReplyDeleteThis is really cool, it's kind of like wearing a sticker or a wash-off tattoo, but having the opportunity of wearing it as long as you want. Tattoos intrigue me, but i can't handle needles, so this is a viable option and opportunity for people to express themselves.
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