A new interface developed by researchers in Bristol and Paris takes touch technology to the next level, by providing an artificial skin-like membrane for augmenting interactive devices such as phones, wearables or computers.
The Skin-On interface mimics human skin in appearance but also in sensing resolution.
The researchers adopted a bio-driven approach to developing a multi-layer, silicone membrane that mimics the layers present in human skin. This is made up of a surface textured layer, an electrode layer of conductive threads and a hypodermis layer. Not only is the interface more natural than a rigid casing, it can also detect a plethora of gestures made by the end-users. As a result, the artificial skin allows devices to ‘feel’ the user’s grasp – its pressure and location, and can detect interactions such as tickling, caressing, even twisting and pinching.
In the study, researchers created a phone case, computer touch pad and smart watch to demonstrate how touch gestures on the Skin-On interface can convey expressive messages for computer mediated communication with humans or virtual characters.
One of the main use of smartphones is mediated communication, using text, voice, video, or a combination. The researchers implemented a messaging application where users can express rich tactile emotions on
News Source: Eurekalert
