Recently, MIT Media Lab and Microsoft Research have collaborated in a project to create DuoSkin, a metallic temporary tattoo which can be used as a digital on-skin Jewelry which enables users to control their mobile devices. After being applied on skin, DouSkin becomes a touch pad controlling electronics and sending data through NFC. Users can easily create their own customized devices beyond a fabrication process, then make it from inexpensive, skin – friendly layers of gold leaf. Once attached to skin, these tattoos function as a user interface.
In a paper, researchers introduced three ways of interaction with DouSkin devices: sensing touch input, displaying output, and wireless communication.
Researchers created on-skin elements which are similar to user interfaces such as buttons, sliders, and 2D track pads so users can enter input in a familiar way. Its 2D touchpad uses row and column scanning with a two-layer design that separates vertical and horizontal lines. Tattoos that act as an input device allows users to connect to a computer or smartphone and control apps by swiping on the tattoo itself.
The output devices have the ability to display information by changing color based on skin temperature. Users' heath and mood so that can be visualized by their partners.
DuoSkin can also be used as a wireless communication device using NFC, whose tags comprise a chip that connects to a coil.
In fact, this is not the first time that researchers try to turn human skin into a touch pad. In 2010, a group of students in Carnegie Mellon teamed up with Microsoft Research to develop Skinput turning human wrist or back of the hand into a surface that receives data from finger gestures. However, it is expensive and requires too many particular devices to make Skinput work on skin. On the other hand, DouSkin fulfill everyday users' demand for durable and skin-friendly user interfaces at a reasonable price. The applying process besides is very simple: Attach to the skin, put on a damp piece of cloth then peel the paper cover off.
In a paper, researchers introduced three ways of interaction with DouSkin devices: sensing touch input, displaying output, and wireless communication.
Researchers created on-skin elements which are similar to user interfaces such as buttons, sliders, and 2D track pads so users can enter input in a familiar way. Its 2D touchpad uses row and column scanning with a two-layer design that separates vertical and horizontal lines. Tattoos that act as an input device allows users to connect to a computer or smartphone and control apps by swiping on the tattoo itself.
The output devices have the ability to display information by changing color based on skin temperature. Users' heath and mood so that can be visualized by their partners.
DuoSkin can also be used as a wireless communication device using NFC, whose tags comprise a chip that connects to a coil.
In fact, this is not the first time that researchers try to turn human skin into a touch pad. In 2010, a group of students in Carnegie Mellon teamed up with Microsoft Research to develop Skinput turning human wrist or back of the hand into a surface that receives data from finger gestures. However, it is expensive and requires too many particular devices to make Skinput work on skin. On the other hand, DouSkin fulfill everyday users' demand for durable and skin-friendly user interfaces at a reasonable price. The applying process besides is very simple: Attach to the skin, put on a damp piece of cloth then peel the paper cover off.
This
is how a smart tattoo made