12. Skin Electronics¶
RESEARCH & IDEATION¶
Thanks to our local instructor and the lecture I got introduced to the world of skin electronics which I had no idea about, all projects shown to us were incredibly interesting, so I picked three of them to guide me to understand more about the project of the week, so first:
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The Laser Dress: This project amazed me with how robotics can be creatively integrated into fashion. The designer's approach is playful yet innovative, showcasing how technology can transform garments into interactive experiences.
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NailO: This project demonstrated the impressive potential of sensors (inputs) to be seamlessly integrated into wearable systems. These nail-based sensors are functional with 92% accuracy (which is pretty high), adapting well to the natural movements of our hands. While the small size limits battery life, the design remains practical and thoughtfully crafted for the human body.
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My UV Patch by La Roche-Posay: L’Oréal's first UV sensor is a flexible, lightweight wearable that uses photo-sensitive dyes to monitor UV exposure. Designed to be worn for up to five days, the patch works alongside a companion app that prompts the user to scan it every few hours. The app not only provides real-time updates on UV exposure but also offers tailored recommendations for lifestyle adjustments and L’Oréal products that can help protect the skin.
These projects opened my eyes to the potential of merging technology with the human body in ways that are functional, interactive, and beautifully designed.
Images credits:
REFERENCES & INSPIRATION¶
From creating flexible circuits to integrating sensors that "feel" with us, I’ve been diving into the concept of turning the skin into an interactive space. I’ve been inspired by amazing creators like Olivia Cueva, Asli Aksan, and Julija Karas, who have shown me that electronics don’t have to be rigid or boring. Here, technology feels more alive than ever. And as I'm thinking about doing something related to hand movement I found these projects the perfect match for guidance!
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Olivia Cueva: Olivia's project was my main references as she dives into electronic skin interfaces that blur the lines between body, art, and technology. Her work explores the concept of "wearing" technology directly on the skin — think tattoos that respond to touch or movement! Using flexible circuits and conductive materials, Olivia creates interactive designs that look like body art but function like mini control panels. It’s like turning your skin into a smart device, but way cooler and definitely more artistic.
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Asli Aksan: Asli’s project focuses on the beauty of soft circuits and how they can be embedded into textiles or applied to the skin. Her approach combines softness, flexibility, and interactivity, using materials like conductive threads and fabrics. The result? Electronics that bend, stretch, and move with the body. Asli's work shows that circuits don’t have to be stiff and lifeless — they can be soft, wearable, and even beautiful. Imagine clothing or accessories that react to your body’s movements or gestures. Futuristic? Absolutely. Possible? Totally.
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Julija Karas: Julija is all about skin sensors and wearable electronics. Her project explores how to merge the human body with interactive technology in a seamless, almost invisible way. By experimenting with flexible substrates and sensor integration, she creates "second skin" electronics that can detect movement, pressure, or changes in the environment. Think of it like having an extra sensory layer on your body.
E.T.¶
This project draws inspiration from the character E.T. in the iconic movie, whose glowing finger symbolized connection, curiosity, and the blending of technology with human emotion. By integrating a laser into the nail design, the project embodies a modern reinterpretation of E.T.'s gesture, where light becomes a tool for interaction and exploration. The choice to place the laser on the nail highlights the seamless integration of technology with the body, emphasizing both the functionality and the symbolic act of "pointing" to communicate or illuminate. This is my personal take on E.T.’s glowing finger—it’s like channeling that mix of curiosity and connection but with a laser instead of alien magic. The idea of pointing at something and lighting it up feels like a playful nod to E.T.’s way of interacting with the world, but also like giving myself a cool little superpower.
DIGITAL TOOLS¶
PHYSICAL TOOLS¶
- EONTEX (For Sensor)
- KAPTON TAPE
- THIN TRANSPARENT TAPE
- NAIL GLUE
- FAKE NAILS
- ADAFRUIT FLORA (Microcontroller)
- WIRES
- RESISTOR 10K
- LASER KY-008-AZ
- SCISSORS
- USB CABLE
- MULTIMETER
- CONDUCTIVE TAPE
- SOLDERING TIN
PROCESS¶
So, my starting point was to build 'ET'S Finger' as when usually when we point at something to somebody else, they take a while or sometimes they don't even know at what we're pointing at, so integrating a laser into the human body could be pretty useful when we want to make this finding what we're pointing at process easier and faster for the other person
1. UNDERSTANDING THE HAND MOVEMENT¶
When we point at something, we naturally use our index finger while closing our hand, causing the other fingers to touch our palm. This makes the palm an ideal location for the sensor (INPUT). Every time we point, we unconsciously activate the sensor, which then triggers the laser (OUTPUT).
2. UNDERSTANDING THE CIRCUIT¶
Now it's my turn to try to understand the circuit which is not very complicated but at the same time I'm thinking which way would be better to integrate it to the body, so at first I tried with conductive thread but it was very easy that the positive and the negative threads touched each other creating a short, that's why I taped them to the table (which I like to call my frist skin) as it was easier to work that way when experimenting with the connections, but very soon I realized I needed wires instead of threads to prevent a short.
Here you can find the DataSheet with the information of the laser
BE CAREFUL!!!
PLEASE DON'T POINT THE LASER TO YOUR EYES
3. UNDERSTANDING HOW TO INTEGRATE ARDUINO¶
At first I knew I could only use a battery to turn on and off my laser but I wanted to integrate the Flora into my project. I thought that it was going to be pretty simple circuit (and it is!!!) but I got very confused haha, so after quiet a time and mentory from my local instructors, I understood it wasn't just 1 circuit, I needed 2! One for the laser connected to one pin of the flora and ground and another one for the sensor connected to other pin, ground and the 3.3V
4. CONNECTING THEM¶
Now I have to be clear that everything works, so it's time to connect them all together!!! And as you can see in the video the laser turns on, I was so excited (and relieved)
5. INTEGRATING ALL OF THE ABOVE TO MY BODY¶
The next step after making sure that it works was to put it on my my body with some very very thin tape
CODE¶
This code 2 was created using BambuStudio
const int sensorPin = 10; // Pin del sensor de presión
const int laserPin = 9; // Pin del láser
int valorSensor = 0; // Variable para leer el valor del sensor
const int range = 300; // Valor según la sensibilidad del sensor
void setup() {
pinMode(laserPin, OUTPUT);
Serial.begin(9600);
}
void loop() {
valorSensor = analogRead(sensorPin);
Serial.println(valorSensor);
if (valorSensor > range) { // Si el valor supera el rango
digitalWrite(laserPin, LOW); // el láser
} else {
digitalWrite(laserPin, HIGH); // el láser
}
}
6. LET'S MAKE IT MORE FUN¶
This schematic 1 was created using Rhinoceros3D