Stretchable electronics and smart tattoos give human skin an upgrade from the future
Posted 09.14.2011 at 3:30 pm
12 Comments
Of all our human organs, skin is arguably one of the most abused — yet it’s also arguably the most reliable. It protects everything inside us, helping us avoid harm by sensing obstacles in our way, making sure we stay hydrated, and ensuring we keep ourselves at the right temperature. It constantly replenishes itself, sloughing off former layers that we’ve either burned or dried out or scraped or ignored, while new ones grow in their places.
Click here for a photo gallery of future skin technology for humans and machines.
Many of skin’s properties would be useful in other applications — like helping people with artificial limbs regain some of what they’ve lost. And an electronic skin, or at least some tactile sensory ability, could help machines understand the delicate differences in force that are required to grip an apple, a hand or a piece of steel.
Researchers trying to duplicate its beneficial properties are building teeny stretchable electronics that can give artificial limbs a real sense of touch.
And scientists are making several changes to human skin itself, turning it into a 21st century interface capable of much more than feeling another person’s caress. From conductive tattoos that turn skin into a human-machine communications device, skin is getting plenty of upgrades.
Click through to the gallery for a look at some recent breakthroughs in skin technology.
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Gimme some skin man! FIRST COMMENT!!
On clicking on the View Photo Galley link, I get a message that tells me that I'm not authorized to access that page.
Ditto on what shutterpod said. Do you have to be a subscriber or something? I am actually and have been for many years but I don't know if I have to put that information in my online account or something...
@shutterpod
same here, access denied
must be an issue at their end
Just noticed it said "Feature" so maybe it's only for paid subscribers?
photo gallery not working :(
_________________
The people of the world only divide into two kinds, One sort with brains who hold no religion, The other with religion and no brain.
- Abu-al-Ala al-Marri
it works ppl... i guess you just have to wait a little while they are finishing editing or something...
bored? lets go mine the stars... ^^
HEY Smart Guys!!
You can't view the photo gallery because you're not supposed to be looking at POPSCI while you're AT WORK!
It's not on POPSCI's end, its your boss trying to tell you to quit clock sucking.
Get back to work, slacker!
However, POPSCI Welcomes any reader at any time from any place in the world. So "working" slackers.... proceed.
jediminset said
"The people of the world only divide into two kinds, One sort with brains who hold no religion, The other with religion and no brain."
From Wikapedia, Einstein said, "Quantum mechanics is certainly imposing. But an inner voice tells me that it is not yet the real thing. The theory says a lot, but does not really bring us any closer to the secret of the 'old one.' I, at any rate, am convinced that He does not throw dice."
This has been misquoted as, "God does not play dice with the universe", but the intent is the same. I guess in your thoughts Einstein has no brains. Using scientific analysis I could conclude that you don't believe in the Theory of Relativity. So sad.
@pinkyandthebrain
Einstein never claimed he was religious. you just said multiply times that he believed in something greater then himself and not your christian-judeo "god". i sort of have the same mentally as him. i feel that there are other life forms out there that dwarf our current technology 1000 fold. and just because you believe in a "god" does not make you religious. you can be religious without a god. you can have "god" without following religion.
_________________
The people of the world only divide into two kinds, One sort with brains who hold no religion, The other with religion and no brain.
- Abu-al-Ala al-Marri