Electronic Tattoos

January 01, 2017

Right now, electronic tattoos are not exactly practical, but with wireless electronics getting smaller and more flexible, it is only a matter of time.

The driving force behind the technology is remote medical monitoring. Implanted or applied to the skin like a medical patch, the devices could monitor heart rate, respiratory rate, glucose levels and send the data real time to your medical provider. They might have displays built in, so why not make them look fashionable as well?

DuoSkin enables anyone to create customized functional electronic devices that can be attached directly on their skin. Created by MIT Media Lab in collaboration with Microsoft Research.

Electronic tattoo

An electronic tattoo that is held in place by van der Waals forces could be used to monitor a patient's heart and vital signs.

Micro-electronic health monitor

A micro-electronic health monitor so thin, light and portable that it can attach right to the surface of skin and go wherever a person goes. This innovation has the potential to revolutionize the field of healthcare technology.

ElectriCute

SparkFun ElectriCute - Elastolite Electronic Temporary Tattoo

E Ink Tattoo

A concept, but possible some day.

Image by Tattoodelmono (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons