Imagine being able to type on your computer without having to touch keyboards of any kind. Science fiction? Researchers at Stanford University have developed a sprayable 'smart skin' that makes this incredible achievement possible. The spray, presented on Nature Electronics (I'll link the study here), is made with a biocompatible material that can be spread on a hand or arm like a normal sunscreen. Thanks to artificial intelligence, this smart skin can literally detect the intentions of the "wearer". What keys do you want to type? How do you want to interact? Think and you will achieve.
A "nanonet" that moves in unison with us
The formulation through a biocompatible spray, which creates a real flexible nanonetwork, is extremely thinner than other electronic interfaces (I am thinking of haptic gloves, for example). And not only that: it's also less invasive and easy to use in the long run. Of course, it still has limits in the accuracy of the answer, you can take a look yourself in the video that you find in this article. It is unlikely that this sprayable skin will replace keyboards and various peripherals in the short term, if it is not optimized.
What's the secret? Lots of tiny ones sensors that detect movements and transmit data to a artificial intelligence which collects and interprets them. I find it a truly remarkable approach: and all in all, he's only now taking his first steps.
Not just keyboards
At a guess, the future applications of such a technology are many. It's not just a way to control keyboards: this amazing smart skin spray would also allow you to manage apps on your smartphone. It could even be used for virtual reality applications and, unlike VR gloves, it would offer a much more pleasant aesthetic for our hands.
But its potential does not end there: this technology could lead to a myriad of new opportunities, not only in the field of interaction with mobile devices, but also in making the experience of augmented and mixed reality even more engaging and immersive. The only limit is my imagination: luckily I won't be the one to develop this stuff. Enjoy.
