computer science
june 2015
BY rana andary
Old news: Apple Watch. New news: electronic skin.
18
The future is now. Medicine has caught up with today’s fashion with tattoo-like stamps and chic gold stickers that monitor the human body. Professor John Rogers of the University of Illinois created the Biostamp, which tracks brainwaves, skin hydration, and many more aspects of the human body.
The Biostamp is a series of miniature, flexible sensors that retain their functionality when stretched out of shape (most electronics can’t do that!!).
The reason why this Biostamp is such a breakthrough is that previously, scientists required a heavy helmet filled with electrodes to monitor the same functions, and the helmets could not be worn for a long time due to safety. The Biostamp is (obviously) wireless, which eliminates the background noise and positional uncertainty that wires caused. In addition, the electrodes used in the Biostamp are of a higher density, thus giving them a greater ability to record information.
The Biostamp is mainly used for measuring brain waves that are associated with seizures that epileptic patients have and to monitor brain activity involved in sleep disorders. But many other companies are using it for other purposes. Reebok utilizes the Biostamp to measure the forces caused by impacts in sports, L’Oreal uses it to measure the hydration of skin, and even the US military uses the Biostamp to keep track of soldiers’ conditions.