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Temporary tattoo can control devices

By Steven Overly, The Washington Post
Published: September 14, 2016, 6:02am

Scientists at the MIT Media Lab and Microsoft Research have designed metallic body art that can control and communicate with electronic devices, such as smartphones.

DuoSkin temporary tattoos, which can be made at home and wash off in a day, use the electrodes present in inexpensive gold leaf to create a conductive surface. There are three different types of tattoos: those that act as a touchpad to control a computer cursor, those that change color based on temperature, and those that can store personal data such as photos.

The scientists wanted to show that wearable technology can be customized.

“It’s something that you own and not a one-size-fits-all wearable. You can design it and it can really cater to your needs…,” said Cindy Hsin-Liu Kao, one of the researchers behind the project.

More than just a fashion accessory, the DuoSkin tattoos further blur the line between the human body and technology.

On the Web

VIDEO: DuoSkin’s metallic tattoos allow people to create three types of user interfaces on their skin.

https://vimeo.com/178334883

A Pew Research study from last month shows people are decidedly less bullish on technology that enhances from inside the body. A majority of Americans surveyed expressed some concern about brain chips, synthetic blood and gene editing.

DuoSkin is not nearly so invasive, but the epidermis is literally our final barrier.

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