Smart tattoos help control phones remotely

Researchers have turned tattoos into communication tools, able to control electronic devices and transmit data.

Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have teamed up with researchers from Microsoft Corporation in a project to build metal body tattoos . These tattoos have the ability to help users control and communicate with electronic devices such as smartphones or laptops.

Called DuoSkin , these are temporary tattoos that can be done at home and washed easily during the day. They use cheap gold foil electrodes to create a conductive surface. Gold leaf and a thin layer of silicon combined with the body help create a touch "interface" on the skin. When touching the tattoo, we can create control commands sent to electronic devices.

Smart tattoos can be designed in any shape you want.(Image source: MIT).

The team said that you can design the circuit structure with any graphic platform, separate the tattoo pattern into thin gold leaves (electrically conductive material), then integrate the preferred materials. Case and component comes to be able to form a complete operation mechanism.

Researchers have developed 3 different types of tattoos.The first type that works like a touch pad can help control the computer pointer or adjust the music player. The second type uses heat-sensitive pigments that change color when body temperature rises. And the last type of tattoo combined with information technology capable of transmitting personal data, such as images between phones and tattoos.

"This is a technology that you can customize. Each tattoo will have a unique shape and color based on your preferences and not be overlapped with many others," said Cindy Hsin-Liu Kao. , one of the researchers said. Not only is DuoSkin a fashion accessory, it will be a step forward to blur the line between technology and the human body.

The trend of wearable technology is booming in recent years with many smart watches and eyeglasses. In the future, devices and sensors integrated with the body will become increasingly popular with users. They support utilities such as collecting personal information about health and user activities to improve and improve the quality of life.

DuoSkin tattoos will be a step forward to blur the line between technology and the human body.

However, according to the survey, there are still quite a lot of people expressing concern about these kinds of technologies, especially those that help improve human ability from inside the body. Most Americans surveyed expressed concern about brain chips, blood synthesis and genetic modification. Here are 3 technologies that can improve people's health and performance by changing physical health from within.

DuoSkin does not invade the human body. They only touch up to the epidermis. And this is completely harmless. " Moreover, we can completely control it. We can tattoo and remove easily and quickly whenever we want," Kao said.