Tech Tatoos Could be the Future of Wearable Technology in the Health Industry
The future of wearables is reportedly uncertain according to many tech experts. Smart watches and fitness trackers have their place, but they seem to have stopped evolving. What you see is what you get. The future of fitness trackers and smart watches is definitely questionable. But, we would argue, that we are at the cusp of the future of wearable health technology.
With health trackers that can do things like measure glucose levels in diabetics, prevent you from falling asleep while driving or diagnose sleep apnea, the potential for health wearables is limitless. And now, companies are looking at health wearables in a whole new way, in the form of tattoos.
Tattoos, like Chaotic Moon’s, dual-purpose tat is made up of electro conductive ink embedded with sensors and microchips. Eric Schneider, one of the developers believes that these tattoos could potentially replace yearly physicals at the doctor’s office. The tech tattoo could monitor everything normally done in a physical and send the information to the medical office. If there is an issue the doctor would call you in for follow-up. The tech tattoo would be capable of looking at early signs of fever, vital signs, heart rate or other stats that would indicate illness. Another word for this technology is predictive healthcare and it is not only expected to monitor physical health, but mental health as well. Information from either chip implants or through smartphone apps would transfer warnings to medical professionals in live time so the patient receives immediate assistance when needed.
There are also potential uses for wearable tats in the military. For example Tech Tatts could potentially identify poisons in the air, germs, virus’ or bacteria in a soldier’s body, or alert military personnel when a soldier is hurt or stressed.
Tech tattoo developments are fast and furious. Researchers at MIT and Harvard have created temporary, color-changing tattoos that can monitor metabolic changes. Traditional ink is replaced by biosensors to track changes in blood sugar, PH and sodium levels. Researchers at Northwestern University have created a patch that can detect sweat volume and rate, along with health markers found in sweat. At the University of California, San Diego, researchers have created a tech tattoo that’s able to measure blood alcohol levels.
Not only are tech tattoo applications being explored and developed but the tattoo process is being explored as well. Researchers at Waseda University in Japan have created a new electronic tattoo process using a household printer. This brings the possibility of people being able to print their own health tattoos cheaply from their own homes. Researchers used an inkjet printer to print black lines that can conduct electricity onto a nanosheet. The nanosheet film is 120 times thinner than a human hair and the film sticks onto the skin without the need for glue, tapes or chemical bonding. When tested on artificial skin it worked for several days. It could potentially change what wearable electronics and tech tats look like. Imagine a fit bit or smartwatch less noticeable than a band-aid or sticker.
While the traditional tech wearable market may be reaching it’s climax, the doors to more innovative and potentially life-changing health wearables is just beginning. We can’t wait to see where the future takes us!
Read more on Health Wearables:
Wearable that Accurately Detects Fever and Temperature Spikes
