In ACS Nano, researchers say they have devised a way to make playing video games, sketching cartoons and signing documents easier. Their proof-of-concept silk armband turns a person’s forearm into a keyboard or sketchpad. The three-layer, touch-responsive material interprets what a user draws or types and converts it into images on a computer.
The flexible armband is crafted with a thin, stretchable, and lightweight material that resembles the texture of human skin. It includes a dense array of sensors capable of detecting a variety of touch gestures, such as tapping, swiping, and pinching. These sensors employ a technology called ‘strain gauge’, which measures changes in the material’s shape and size when force is applied.
For the armband to work effectively, the researchers developed a custom algorithm that processes the sensor data to recognize and distinguish between different touch gestures. Additionally, they refined the armband’s design, taking into account factors like sensitivity, robustness, and durability.
In their experiments, the team tested the armband on human subjects who completed a series of tasks to evaluate the device’s functionality and usability. These tasks included controlling media playback, scrolling through lists, and adjusting volume levels. The outcomes showed that the flexible armband touch technology offered a user-friendly and intuitive interface for operating electronic devices. The flexible armband could be applied in various sectors, such as healthcare, sports, and entertainment, as well as support people with disabilities in interacting with devices more effectively.
Research
Ruidong Xu, Minghua She, Jiaxu Liu, Shikang Zhao, Jisheng Zhao, Xueji Zhang, Lijun Qu, Mingwei Tian. Skin-Friendly and Wearable Iontronic Touch Panel for Virtual-Real Handwriting Interaction. ACS Nano, 2023; DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c12612
