Lego-Like 'Smart Tattoos' Offer A Glimpse Into The Future Of Wearable Technology

Smartphones might become a thing of the past with computing that happens on your skin via wearable devices. Some people refer to this tech as "smart tattoos" - an extension of wearable technologies that currently exist in the market.

For quite some time, on-skin computing has remained a challenge owing to concerns of durability and comfort. Now, a team of scientists from Cornell's Hybrid Body Lab has designed "reliable, skin-tight interface" that is easily attached and detached, according to TechXplore.

Its creators say the tech may be used to perform a variety of tasks - be it health monitoring or fashion. Lead author of the study titled "SkinKit: Construction Kit for On-Skin Interface Prototyping," Pin-Sung Ku says that they've "finally figured out a lot of the technical challenges."

Cornell University

Building smart tattoos like Lego

They've built "smart tattoos" with a modular approach to "make them as straightforward as building Legos," said Cindy Kao, the study's senior author.

SkinKit is essentially built for people who have little to no technical knowledge. Kao highlighted how diverse cultures inspired them to take this Lego approach. "We felt it's actually very important to let more people have a voice in saying what they want these smart tattoos to do," Kao added.

Also read: Wearable Tech For Plants Tells Farmers When Certain Crops Are About To Die

The team's "skin cloth" is created through fabrication done using temporary tattoo paper, silicon textile stabiliser, and water - which creates a multi-layer thin film. Their tessellated design allows the product to be reusable.

The detachable design also gives power to the users, who may want to choose which sensors to use on certain days. SkinKit was tested one nine participants with STEM backgrounds who built the device after attending a 90-minute workshop. This was followed by a two-day study with 25 participants possessing STEM and design backgrounds.

Also read: Google Building Wearables That Respond To Skin Gestures, Claim Reports

Hybrid Body Lab

The 25 participant study led to the creation of various devices - temperature sensors to detect fever; a device that helps people maintain social distancing; a notification sensor that vibrates each time a vehicle comes close to a runner; and another device for the blind that vibrates when the wearer is about to bump into an object.

There are many other applications of the "smart tattoos" - including in fashion and athletic training.

What do you think about these futuristic smart tattoos? Let us know in the comments below. For more in the world of technology and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com.

References

Fleischman, T. (2022, November 3). New ¡°smart tattoos¡± tackle tech challenges of on-skin computing. https://techxplore.com/news/2022-11-smart-tattoos-tackle-tech-on-skin.html