Others have tried to make this concept a reality, but the products proved costly, and difficult to affix to flesh. The DuoSkin difference is in the gold leaf – which brings bling to the project – and also serves as an efficient conductor. The design piggybacks on developments in body-art, specifically metallic temporary tattoos. The team turned to gold leaf because it is “robust to movements and skin deformations during motion…[and] both workable and aesthetic in appearance,” lead researcher Cindy Hsin-Liu Kao said in an interview with Quartz.

Why would you want a smart tat?

It could be used as a trackpad to remotely control your mobile phone or adjust the volume of the music you tune into. They can track user data and report back to you, like a body-integral Fitbit, with embedded thermochromic displays that change color in reaction to heat, reporting on body temperature, blood pressure, breathing patterns. It might also report on your immediate environment, checking air quality, weather conditions, and alert you to the presence of harmful substances.

Another function is wireless communication. The tattoo could include an NFC (near field communications) tag that can be read by phones or other NFC devices nearby.

Ultimately – in a future Aldous Huxley couldn’t have envisioned – this technology could serve as individual identification, subway cards, and even movie tickets.

Production is simple, say the MIT engineers. Using graphic design software, sketch the circuitry. Next, create stencils of that circuitry by layering vinyl film on thin temporary tattoo paper. Cut it with an electronic cutter, and then top it with conductive gold leaf using spray adhesive. Now the tat is reading for mounting.

DuoSkin is planted on skin using a water-transfer technique, just like any other temporary tattoo. Position the tat, press down with a damp cloth, and peel off the backing paper. Kao estimates the tools and materials to cost under $300 USD, a big investment for a tat with a one-day lifespan, but it’s sort of scalable. After the initial equipment is purchased, subsequent smart tats will cost you just for materials.

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DuoSkin describes this as a “project”, not a product or prototype. Its developers will make their research available as open source, encouraging others to build upon their concept to create next-generation on-skin wearables.
Kao sees commercial potential. “There’s definitely some people who are more maker-type personalities but there’s of course people who would prefer not to do so [themselves],” Kao told Quartz. “We see this developing as a business model.”

The project will be presented at the International Symposium on Wearable Computers 2016, taking place in Heidelberg, Germany from September 12-16.

Images from DuoSkin website

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A Dubai-based abaya fashion designer has come up with a way to take the traditional black cloak into the future by integrating nanotechnology into its sleeves, giving the garment the capability to charge a smartphone or tablet. Manaal Al Hammadi showcased her solar-powered abaya at the last month’s World Energy Summit 2016 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

Al Hammadi, who designs modern abaya with contemporary detailing, integrated solar cells into its generous folds. She experimented with organic photovoltaic (OPV) units,  made of flexible and lightweight thin film (pictured below) that can be “printed” using roll-to-roll production processes. These cells are durable, and have relatively low levels of embedded energy.

She placed the collectors in sleeves in order to receive maximum solar exposure, and softened the high-tech look with trims and bead work to give the illusion of delicate embroidery. Charging ports are hidden in the front pocket of the abaya, for convenient device plug-in.

Wearable tech is hot, with new versions constantly coming online, but this is the world’s first piece of Islamic fashion to jump on the trend. In the rapidly development mash-up of tech, renewable energy and fashion, when will we see solar panels on hijab or yarmulke?

Manaal Al Hammadi’s Abaya Designs can be found at The Fashion Vault in Sunset Mall, Dubai. You can follow her on her instagram page @manaalalhammadi.

The post Dubai designer uses nano-tech to turn a traditional black abaya green! appeared first on Green Prophet.

Aleyn Smith-Gillespie, associate director Carbon Trust, states on the project website, “ This app has the potential to increase understanding and stimulate action by intuitively communicating and linking our daily activities and decisions to their impacts on the climate.”

It’s similar to dieting apps, where you enter your daily exercise and food intake for a speedy assessment as to progress towards goals. The WorldBeing band goes further. Pair it with a smart phone app, and it tracks everything you buy and eat, your transportation choices, and home and office energy use – calculating associated carbon generation and measuring it against your personal goals.

The injection-molded wristband, made from recycled materials, has an built-in electrocardiogram sensor that can measure wearer’s heartbeat – good news for all who pass on the VS “Incredible” bra. Future prototypes will house a banking chip for executing secure payments.

It’s got a game-like vibe, offering instant visual feedback on your carbon footprint via cloud-shaped graphics of changeable color and size. You can also tag other users in short-term competitions in specific aspects of green living (as example, eat less, walk more). The developers also envision partnerships with local businesses offering discounts and rewards to WorldBeing users.

This video outlines the idea in about four minutes, which nearly exceeds my daily allotment of “free time”, so I can’t imagine investing even more time in continual data entry on all aspects of my life. The developers address this by stating that WorldBeing is designed for a not-so-distant future when digital data tracking is fully automated, sidestepping manual input of what you consume – whether it’s food or energy.

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“There has never been a better time to use design as a tool to create meaningful conversation around our personal responsibility to make changes to our lifestyles to stop global warming,” Hubert told Dezeen, “We desperately need a platform that helps the world to understand what our personal carbon footprint is and why we should be decreasing – it in an accessible manner that has a high level of engagement.”

WorldBeing debuted during London Design Festival 2015, held the last week of September. A Thunderclap Crowdshouting campaign is promoting the project.

Images from Layer Design website

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