12. Skin Electronics¶

INTRODUCTION¶

This week focused on Skin Electronics, combining wearability, aesthetics, and functionality. The goal was to design a wearable prototype that seamlessly integrates electronics onto the skin using unconventional and innovative materials.

Concept¶

The project explores the intersection of technology and self-expression through wearable skin electronics. Inspired by the fusion of art and science, the idea is to develop a skin-worn interactive light display using neopixels controlled by a XIAO ESP32-C3 microcontroller. The concept draws from:

• Body adornment traditions, reimagined with modern technology.

• The rising trend of biometric wearables, where electronics serve functional and decorative purposes.

Sketches¶

Key design elements in the sketches include:

• Flexible circuits designed with headphone wires.

• Strategic placement of neopixels for aesthetic symmetry.

• Integration of makeup to conceal circuits and blend with the skin’s surface.

• Use of eyelash gel as a medium to secure and insulate electronic pathways.

References to Artistic and Scientific Publications¶

Artistic References¶

Lucy McRae's Biometric Art: Known for blending human bodies with futuristic technology, Lucy's work inspired the use of electronics as extensions of self-expression.
"Second Skin" by Studio XO: A project exploring how wearable technology transforms the body into a canvas for dynamic light displays.

Scientific References¶

"Electronic Skin" by Takao Someya et al. (2019): Explores the development of flexible electronics that mimic skin’s properties for wearable applications.
"Conductive Ink Applications in Wearable Electronics" (2020): Highlights the role of conductive inks in creating seamless, flexible electronic designs.
"Wearable LEDs for Personalized Aesthetic and Health Monitoring" (2021): Discusses the use of LED arrays for dual-purpose applications in fashion and health tech.

Tools and Materials Used¶

Materials¶

Headphone wire – Lightweight, flexible conductive material for pathways.
Eyelash gel – Acts as an adhesive and protective coating for circuits.
Makeup – Blends the electronic design into the skin for aesthetic appeal.
Battery – Powers the circuit.
XIAO ESP32-C3 – Compact microcontroller for programming and controlling neopixels.
Neopixels – RGB LEDs for interactive light displays.

Tools¶

• Soldering iron

• Multimeter

• Tweezers

• Arduino IDE (for coding and programming the XIAO ESP32-C3)

Steps Followed¶

Concept Development and Research¶

• Reviewed references and existing projects on skin electronics.

• Defined functionality: interactive, wearable light display with artistic elements.

Sketching the Design¶

• Created rough sketches outlining the placement of components, wire paths, and neopixels.

Prototyping the Circuit¶

• Assembled the circuit using headphone wires and neopixels.

• Used eyelash gel to adhere the wires and seal connections.

• Integrated makeup to blend the design seamlessly onto the skin.

Programming and Testing¶

• Uploaded a light pattern program to the XIAO ESP32-C3 using Arduino IDE.

• Tested the circuit’s functionality with a multimeter and made adjustments.

Final Prototype Description¶

The final prototype is a skin-worn light display that:

• Features an interactive neopixel array.

• Blends seamlessly with the skin using makeup.

• Is powered by a lightweight battery and controlled by a XIAO ESP32-C3.

Code Example¶

Use the three backticks to separate code.

// the setup function runs once when you press reset or power the board
void setup() {
  // initialize digital pin LED_BUILTIN as an output.
  pinMode(LED_BUILTIN, OUTPUT);
}

// the loop function runs over and over again forever
void loop() {
  digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, HIGH);   // turn the LED on (HIGH is the voltage level)
  delay(1000);                       // wait for a second
  digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, LOW);    // turn the LED off by making the voltage LOW
  delay(1000);                       // wait for a second
}