July 31 2008 / by futuretalk
Category: Other Year: General Rating: 4 Hot
By Dick Pelletier
By 2015, experts believe, tiny microchips placed under our skin will enable us to control consumer electronic devices and browse the Internet with just our thoughts. BT Futurologist Ian Pearson says we could place these chips into the upper layers of the skin and arrange them into useful circuits to power and control our electronic world.
Researchers propose a five layered architecture, referred to as active skin. A master chip, installed deep in the skin, would connect with blood capillaries and nerve endings; and would eventually, as technology develops, exchange data directly with the brain. The master chip would communicate with temporary chips placed higher in the skin that would wash or wear away after a few days.
These non-permanent chips would be created in thin polymer membranes that adhere to the skin like invisible stick-on patches. The combination of layers would allow gadgets to be built linking us to our entire electronic world and the Internet.
Computers, cell phones, music players, and other devices could be implanted on our wrists and hands, with full keyboards. These would remain invisible until our touch made them light up. The circuitry itself would be made of dispersed groups of invisible devices.
Medical sensors could be implanted to stave off heart attacks and strokes, monitor blood chemistry 24/7, and alert hospital computers to any emergency. They could also remotely administer drugs to precise body locations.
Displays for active skin devices would be made of small organic LEDs that light up on command. Viewing a TV picture or browsing the Internet on the back of our hand would be quite appealing. Imagine web-searching or processing email just by looking at your hand. Or making phone calls without opening your mouth – your party hears words created only by your thoughts.
Cosmetic changes will be easy with active skin. Different “looks” can be achieved with texture alterations of our skin surface (that’s how butterfly wings get their color). Merely thinking of a pre-programmed make-up image will make that look appear. Looks can be changed often during the day; business-like in the office, seductive at a lunchtime liaison with fiancé, and a natural look for family.
The same holds true for perfume. Active skin could print a thin warming element to vaporize perfume components on request. Another idea for the female market would be to enlarge or reduce, on command, the volume of silicone inside a breast implant.
Active skin will also provide greatly enhanced interfaces for computer games. Gamers believe this new technology, enhanced by creative thoughts and imagination could even produce an equivalent of the Star Trek Holodeck, which wasn’t supposed to arrive until the 25th century.
Will this future happen? Many believe the electronics industry, driven by mega-billions in profits, is already on the way towards making these predictions come true. The question is not will active skin become reality, but when.
This fantasy world is part of our “magical future”, gang. Get ready to enjoy the experience. Comments welcome.
Comment Thread ()
