We all know that wearable devices have evidently become part of mainstream technology and we have also seen how Biohacking implants modify the human body like nothing else. However, there is a concept that lies somewhere between wearables and Biohacking which is “Electronic Tattoos” or “Biotech Tattoos” .
These tattoos are epidermal electronics or thin, flexible rubber patches containing equally flexible electronic components in the form of silicon wires measuring a few nanometers in thickness. They are very similar to the tattoos we used to find on gum wrappers when we were children, but they adhere to the skin in a different way. Electronic tattoos look like stickers filled with circuitry, which collect vital information from the body to monitor the health of the wearer.
Electronic Tattoo (Image courtesy: newscientist)
Emergence of the Concept, Present and Future
The concept was coined due to the realization that wearables require many accessories, such as suction cups, belts or batteries, which are necessary to monitor your health. So, the idea was to minimize the equipment and create something that simply stayed on the skin and communicated with the device.
In the year 2008, Dr. John A. Rogers from the University of Illinois founded the “electronics everywhere” company. With his academic background in applied physics and chemical engineering, he aimed to bridge the gap between man and machine, making electronics more organic. He created technology that could be bent and adapted to our moving bodies.
But the question was how to make electronics flexible, extensible and flexible; the answer was silicon. Interestingly, silicon is used to make the fragile computer chips that power our high-tech lives. Roger and his team arranged tiny silicon wires into coiled patterns and wove them into thin rubber patches. When the coils expand, the silicon contracts and all the functional parts of the device, from the sensors and antennas, are connected to the LED lights.
For example, to measure EEG, a patch is placed on the forehead with the help of a liquid spray bandage and then collects vital signs which are transferred to an external device. Previous models used a wired connection between the patch and the computer, but Rogers' team is working on Wi-Fi and network compatibility.
Electronic patch developed by Dr A Rogers (image courtesy: Sun-Times )
Initially, electronic tattoos were used to monitor muscle, heart and brain activity, which later expanded to pregnancy monitoring in humans and muscle stimulation in rats. And now Rogers has developed the technology to be used under the skin, using a balloon catheter inserted into the human heart.
Even though these tattoos have not yet become a mainstream trend, Rogers envisions a future where epidermal electronics would be responsible for streamlining prosthetic limbs and making people with immobile legs experience muscle contractions. One of Rogers' researchers once planted an electronic device on his neck to use muscle movements to control a computer game. It is believed that one day these spots will be able to capture the muscular movements of speech and give a voice to the mute.
The same can be applied to the concept of robotic exoskeletons and one day this would completely bridge the gap between man and machine. However, before all of our bodies turn into video game controllers, Rogers first aims to eliminate surgical procedures and utilize the concept of tattoos.
Electronic tattoo prototypes so far…
As wearables are evolving into stickers and temporary tattoos, it is believed they will give way to implantables and invisibles. These tattoos are lightweight, cost less, are easy to apply/remove and can make you feel like a “Cyborg”. To date, several efforts have been made to develop the concept.
Discussed below are some of these prototypes and projects with amazing features:
Metallic Tattoos:
Tatio Project from Microsoft Research and Media Lab at MIT (image courtesy: pinterest)
Tattio is a project from Microsoft Research and MIT's Media Lab that uses conductive fabric tape, curved wires, and imitation gold foil. It could function as an NFC tag denoting someone's digital identity, and secondly, it could be coupled with LEDs and vibration motors to function as a smartwatch.
It's available for $1.50 a pop, is easy to remove, and lasts all day. The tested prototype worked with a smartphone application and displayed an image and text when brought close to the tattoo.
Alcohol Monitoring Tattoo:
Alcohol monitoring tattoo developed at the University of California (image courtesy: king5)
One of the recent efforts in the field of tattoos was made at the University of California, where tattoos were designed to measure blood alcohol levels in a quick, cheap and non-invasive way, thus eliminating the use of breathalyzers. These tattoos were developed by electrical and computer engineer Patrick Mercier and Nonoengineer Joseph Wang.
They printed tattoo paper with electrodes that generated a current and a flexible electronic board. In addition, there was also a thin strip of gel on the board that induced sweat on the skin and an electrochemical sensor to measure alcohol concentration. Then, the technological tattoos sent the information to a smartphone via Bluetooth. They are disposable and each one only takes a few cents to make.
Facial Expression Reading Tattoos:
Facial reading expression tattoo created at Tel Aviv University (image courtesy: wearable)
This tattoo, created by Tel Aviv University professor Yael Hanein, is able to read the wearer's facial expressions and emotions using a carbon electrode and a conductive polymer coating on an adhesive surface.
It analyzes the electrical signals received from the muscles of the face and can be used by anyone, including researchers, researchers, advertisers, etc. The tattoo also carries a medical application whereby it can be used on patients suffering from brain damage or stroke to measure their muscle activity, thus avoiding the need for a bunch of electrodes placed all over the body.
Fitness Tracking Tattoos:
Tech Tat by Chaotic Moon (image courtesy: Wired)
An Austin-based company called Chaotic Moon has created an electroconductive ink to connect advanced fitness sensors pressed against the user's skin. The objective is to monitor the user's heart rate and other vital signs. The user can also send the collected information to their doctor every 6 or 12 months.
As for its applications, it has a lot of potential. For example, it can be used as an authentication device when making payments or by soldiers on the battlefield.
You can read our Blog and Article section for more topics on electronic engineering, industry and technology.
(tagsToTranslate)pic