These ultra-thin, skinworn displays may sound like the stuff from science fiction, but the researchers from the University of Tokyo have made it very, very real.
The display, made of polymer LEDs and organic photodetectors only 3 micrometers thick, the optoelectronic skin could practically blend onto your body seamlessly. It could literally look like a tattoo, if it weren’t for the plastic film that it needs to attach to your body, though we wager in due time someone will figure out a way to eliminate the film and we’d all be able to get cool wearable display on our arms.
The current incarnation of the tech is more efficient than previous attempts, being able to run for a few days at a go and won’t break when you flex your limbs. However, the tech is still pretty crude, with this particular prototype only able to inform you of your blood oxygen concentration levels.
Who knows, maybe we’ll get to see this thing totally replace smartwatches. Check out the video below to see it in action.