A research lab at Carnegie Mellon University has taken technology to the next level by finding a way to make your skin act as a tool for gadgets. The skin on your arm and hand act like a touchscreen for a smartwatch. The technology works by using a signal-emitting ring worn on the finger that communicates with the band attached to the watch. It senses continuous tracking, allowing you to draw a picture, for example, using your skin as a canvas. It also senses common gestures like swipes or taps. In short, you can do anything on your smartwatch without having to touch the smartwatch display.
“The great thing about SkinTrack is that it’s not obtrusive; watches and rings are items that people already wear every day,” said Yang Zhang, a first-year PhD from Carnegie Mellon.
The tech, although promising, is still a prototype for now and researchers say there are no concrete plans to commercialise SkinTrack.