Hybrid Body Lab

DuoSkin: Rapidly Prototyping On-Skin User Interfaces Using Skin-Friendly Materials 2016

DuoSkin is a fabrication process that enables anyone to create customized functional devices that can be attached directly on their skin. Using gold metal leaf, a material that is cheap, skin-friendly, and robust for everyday wear, we demonstrate three types of on-skin interfaces: sensing touch input, displaying output, and wireless communication. DuoSkin draws from the aesthetics found in metallic jewelry-like temporary tattoos to create on-skin devices which resemble jewelry. DuoSkin devices enable users to control their mobile devices, display information, and store information on their skin while serving as a statement of personal style. We believe that in the future, on-skin electronics will no longer be black-boxed and mystified; instead, they will converge towards the user friendliness, extensibility, and aesthetics of body decorations, forming a DuoSkin integrated to the extent that it has seemingly disappeared.

Publication:
Kao, H.-L. C., Holz, C., Roseway, A., Calvo, A., Schmandt, C., “DuoSkin: Rapidly Prototyping On-Skin User Interfaces Using Skin-Friendly Materials”, ISWC 2016 [DOI] [PDF]

Credits:
Cindy Hsin-Liu Kao (Lead Researcher), conducted at the MIT Media Lab
Asta Roseway, Microsoft Research
Christian Holz, Microsoft Research
Paul Johns, Microsoft Research
Andres Calvo, MIT Media Lab
Chris Schmandt, MIT Media Lab
MIT Media Lab in collaboration with Microsoft Research

Awards (Selected):

Ars Electronica STARTS Prize Nomination, 2017
SXSW Interactive Innovation Award, 2017
Fast Company Innovation by Design Award Finalist | Experimental Category, 2017
Fast Company Innovation by Design Award Finalist | Fashion & Beauty Category, 2017
A'Design Award, 2017
Fast Company World Changing Ideas Award Finalist, 2017

Press Coverage (Selected):

Forbes (08/16/2016): “The Surprisingly Simple Chemistry In DuoSkin, Temporary Tattoos That Control Your Phone.”
CNN (08/15/2016): “This tattoo that controls a smartphone may be a glimpse of the future”
Washington Post (03/17/2017): “These temporary tattoos turn you into a temporary cyborg”
TechCrunch (08/12/2016): “MIT’s DuoSkin turns temporary tattoos into on-skin interfaces”
DesignBoom (03/29/2017): “DuoSkin electrical temporary tattoos a success at new york fashion week”
Dezeen (12/13/2016): Dezeen's top 10 visions for the future according to 2016
Dezeen (08/17/2016): “DuoSkin temporary tattoos can remotely control devices”
Quartz (08/17/2016): “MIT shows off a smart tattoo that can turn your skin into a touchpad”
CNET (08/15/2016): “Metallic fake tattoos are interactive, look like fashion accessories”
Popular Science (08/15/2016): “MIT Researchers Make Interactive Glowing Gold Leaf Jewelry”