Tattoo That Controls Smart Devices Developed By MIT And Microsoft

The Michigan Institute of Technology and Microsoft teamed up to create what could become the next explosive trend in the world of electronics. Temporary tattoos, which have always been considered curiosities and fashion statements, can now become physical interface that can be used to control smart devices. The tattoo can be used not only to instruct smartphones remotely, it can also be used to share data and more.

Called “DuoSkin” on the site where the research was published, the innovation is intended to allow customizable control over smart devices through the layer of artificial materials on the skin.

“Using gold metal leaf, a material that is cheap, skin-friendly, and robust for everyday wear, we demonstrate three types of on-skin interfaces: sensing touch input, displaying output, and wireless communication,” the post read.

The researchers are set to unveil and showcase the “DuoSkin” on a symposium discussing wearable technology to be held next month, The Verge reports. Not only can the tattoo be used to control devices, the tattoo itself is customizable in terms of appearance, color changes that can vary depending on the temperature of the skin, and users can even install LED lights to give the graft some more character.

As one member of the MIT research team that worked on the project pointed out, the tattoos are easy to create as well. According to Engadget, Cindy Hsin-Liu Kao stated that creating the graft required graphics software which will be used to create the patterns that the users want. These patterns will be the basis of the circuit’s framework and all the users then have to do is plaster the gold layer on top of it.

Other attempts at creating similar technology have successfully produced results in the past. However, in terms of appeal to modern users, the “DuoSkin” appears to present the best chance at gaining interest.