(Image Credit: MC10)

Although sensors which reside inside of the body are the next big thing, a new generation of wearable technology is arriving due to MC10 which hopes to secure a spot on your skin - like a "tattoo" of sorts. 

This new era for wearables is starting with researchers looking into people who have problems with movement, motor skills, and other neurodegenerative disorders. Although not quite a tattoo like you would have inked onto your skin, the adhesive patch is more like a plaster (or 'band aid' as you Americans may call it.)

Wearables that are physically attached to the body, or within it, are gaining significant interest.

From its location on your skin, the patch is capable of monitoring the electrical activity generated by skeletal muscles, as well as functioning like a miniature ECG for assessing the electrical and muscular functions of the heart. Impressively, the small patch also includes a gyroscope and accelerometer. 

Another device which MC10 is debuting follows a similar adhesive format, although it consists of a stretchable, ultra-thin sticker which changes colour depending on how long it's exposed to light. A smartphone app is used to snap a picture of the strip which can report how much skin damage they've endured, and offer suggestions on how to live a safer lifestyle going forward. 

Wearables that are physically attached to the body, or within it, are gaining significant interest. Eight out of 10 consumers in a report conducted by Ericsson said they would like technology which enhances their cognitive abilities and sensory perception, such as hearing, memory, and vision. One in three consumers also expressed an interest towards implants which could integrate data from the internet to a user's hearing or vision. 

Michael Björn, Head of Research at Ericsson ConsumerLab, said: "Some of these trends may seem futuristic. But consumer interest in new interaction paradigms such as AI and virtual reality (VR), as well as in embedding the internet in the walls of homes or even in our bodies, is quite strong. This means we could soon see new consumer product categories appearing - and whole industries transforming - to accommodate this development." 

Would you want a "tattoo" device on your skin? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

 

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