12. Skin Electronics¶

Research¶

!## Research & Ideation

Black and White Showcase

Research

Skin Electronics: A Confluence of Technology, Science, and Art

Skin Electronics: A Confluence of Technology, Science, and Art In the revolutionary subject of skin electronics, elastic and flexible electronic devices are made to blend in perfectly with the human body, simulating the characteristics of skin while offering a platform for a variety of uses. These systems combine high-tech capabilities with aesthetics for a variety of applications in healthcare, the arts, and other fields. Here is a closer look:

describe what you see in this image

Key Technologies in Skin Electronics: Materials That Are Stretchable and Flexible¶

Conductive materials like as graphene, silver nanowires, and conductive polymers are used in skin electronics. Even when severely deformed, these materials retain their electrical conductivity, allowing devices to bend, stretch, and follow the natural curves of the body. Sensors that are wearable:

A variety of biological signals, including heart rate, body temperature, hydration levels, and even brain activity, can be detected by sensors built into skin electronics. Sweat-analysis sensors and electrocardiogram (ECG) patches are two examples. Adaptable Circuits:

Advanced manufacturing techniques like screen printing, laser cutting, and 3D printing are used to build thin-film circuits. These circuits give skin electronics the ability to incorporate intricate electrical components.

describe what you see in this image

Wireless Communication:¶

Numerous skin electronics use Bluetooth or NFC to communicate, making it easy to connect to computers, smartphones, and other electronic devices. Harvesting and Storing Energy:

Energy-efficient designs are necessary to power skin electronics, and these designs are frequently enhanced by cutting-edge energy sources like solar cells, biocompatible batteries, or even fuel cells derived from perspiration.

References & Inspiration¶

THE UNSEEN visualizes brain activity with color changing swarovski crystal headpiece¶

At the intersection between science fiction, fashion and design, arrives a color-changing wearable technology concept from the labs of THE UNSEEN, run by london-based artist lauren bowker and her material exploration team. developed in close collaboration with swarovski, the experimental head-piece brings together a collection of over 4000 black lab grown spinel stones paired with the studio’s ‘magick’ color-changing ink, exemplifying an understanding regarding the hidden properties of the imperfect crystal. specifically chosen and cloned for their material composition, the jewels boast similar characteristics to that found in the human bone.

The link https://www.designboom.com/technology/the-unseen-color-changing-swarovski-brain-activity-08-01-2014/

describe what you see in this image

Bart Hess "Mutants"¶

The skin of latex is lit by an installation existing out of light tubes, leaving an ever evolving grid on the slowly moving Mutant. What appears to be a high tech digital visual in reality is a low tech physical performance. Only the transitions between the three color changes are manipulated or digitally enhanced.

Tools¶

[Arduino UNO]
[Arduino IDE]
[Adafruit Flora]
[NeoPixels]
[Conductive threads]
[3.7V LiPo battery]

Process and workflow¶

Sketches

I used.

Materials

Adafruit Flora board 3 NeoPixels Conductive threads 3.7V LiPo battery

Process¶

I connected the NeoPixel strip/ring's VCC pin to the Flora's 3.3V pad. I made sure my power supply matched the voltage requirements of the NeoPixel. GND (Connect the Ground):
Attached one of the Flora's GND pads to the NeoPixel's GND pin. Attach the DIN (Data Pin):
Attached one of Flora's Digital I/O pins (such as D6) to the NeoPixel's DIN pin.
Flora Programming

The NeoPixel Library was installed by me:

Install the Adafruit NeoPixel library using the Library Manager (Sketch > Include Library > Manage Libraries) after launching the Arduino IDE.

Code Example¶

/#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>

// Pin assignments for the two NeoPixel strips
#define PIXEL_PIN_1 10   // Pin for NeoPixel Strip 1 (Signal Pin D6)
#define PIXEL_PIN_2 9    // Pin for NeoPixel Strip 2 (Signal Pin D9)

// Number of pixels in each strip (adjust as per your setup)
#define NUM_PIXELS_1 8    // Number of LEDs in Strip 1
#define NUM_PIXELS_2 8    // Number of LEDs in Strip 2

// Create NeoPixel objects for each strip
Adafruit_NeoPixel strip1(NUM_PIXELS_1, PIXEL_PIN_1, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);
Adafruit_NeoPixel strip2(NUM_PIXELS_2, PIXEL_PIN_2, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);

void setup() {
  // Start the NeoPixel libraries for both strips
  strip1.begin();
  strip2.begin();

  // Initialize both strips to be off initially
  strip1.clear();
  strip2.clear();

  // Update strips to show the off state
  strip1.show();
  strip2.show();
}

void loop() {
  // Blink the first strip (red)
  strip1.fill(strip1.Color(255, 0, 0)); // Red
  strip1.show();
  delay(500); // Wait for 500 milliseconds
  strip1.clear();
  strip1.show();
  delay(500); // Wait for 500 milliseconds

  // Blink the second strip (blue)
  strip2.fill(strip2.Color(0, 0, 255)); // Blue
  strip2.show();
  delay(500); // Wait for 500 milliseconds
  strip2.clear();
  strip2.show();
  delay(500); // Wait for 500 milliseconds
}

Results¶

Video¶

Fabrication files¶

File: xxx ↩
File: xxx ↩