University of Cincinnati researchers are developing new methods to overcome the barrier of human skin, Via MachineDdesign
According to UC engineering student Andrew Jajack, the real value of wearable tech comes from using single-moment-in-time markers to capture real-time data. “The promise of wearable sensors is real-time health monitoring,” he said. “You can see a more complex picture of what’s going on in the body. That alone will lead to more diagnostic techniques across a spectrum of diseases.”
The other side of the problem is tackling sensors that can move with human skin. Researchers at the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) Okanagan campus have developed a practical way to monitor and interpret human motion. Their initial research was to create an ultra-stretchable sensor. It soon transformed into a sophisticated inter-disciplinary project, with an aim toward creating a smart wearable device capable of sensing and understanding complex human motion.
The sensor is made by infusing graphene nano-flakes (GNF) into a rubber-like adhesive pad. The sensor underwent durability stretch testing to see if it could maintain accuracy under strains of up to 350% of its original state. The device went through more than 10,000 cycles of stretching and relaxing while maintaining its electrical stability.
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