A ‘really wearable’ electronic device is in development stages as a result of efforts by a team of researchers at the University of Colorado. The device is a stretchy and fully-recyclable circuit board inspired by human skin, and sticks on it as well.
The new ‘electronic skin’, is described in a paper published in the journal Science Advances. Like real skin, the device can heal itself. Also, the device performs a host of sensory tasks, from measure of body temperature of users to track their daily step counts. And, it can be shaped to be suitable for any part of the body. For example, if it has to be worn like a watch, it can be put around the wrist. If it has to be worn like a necklace, it can be worn around the neck.
Creation opined to be a leap in the range of wearable devices
The creation will help for a leap in the function and use of wearable devices, opine the research team. “With such a high-tech creation, one day, it will allow people to gather accurate data about their bodies,” opine the team of researchers.
“In fact, smart watches are functionally valuable. Nonetheless, they are always a big chunk of metal on a band,” stated one of the researchers at the Department of Chemistry. Ideally, a truly wearable device would be one that will fit comfortably on the body.
Meanwhile, since long, thin comfortable films have been a staple of science fiction. The skin peeling of Arnold Schwarzenegger in the movie Terminator is an example. “Whilst the research is going in that direction, there is a long way to go,” said one of the researchers.
