wearable devices tagged posts

Stretchable Transistors used in Wearable Devices enable In-Sensor Edge Computing

A wearable in-sensor computing module based on stretchable organic electrochemical transistors
Credit: Liu et al

Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) are neuromorphic transistors made of carbon-based materials that combine both electronic and ionic charge carriers. These transistors could be particularly effective solutions for amplifying and switching electronic signals in devices designed to be placed on the human skin, such as smart watches, trackers that monitor physiological signals and other wearable technologies.

In contrast with conventional neuromorphic transistors, OECTs could operate reliably in wet or humid environments, which would be highly advantageous for both medical and wearable devices. Despite their potential, most existing OECTs are based on stiff materials, which can reduce the comfort of wearables and thus hinder their large-scale deployment.

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Drawing Inspiration from Plants: A Metal-Air Paper Battery for Wearable Devices

Drawing inspiration from plants: A metal–air paper battery for wearable devices
Photographs and a circuit diagram of a SpO2 sensor without cover. On the front side, control IC chip and battery connector were equipped. On the back side, the LED and detector for measuring pulse and O2 saturation were equipped. Credit: RSC Applied Interfaces (2024). DOI: 10.1039/D4LF00039K

For more than two millennia, paper has been a staple of human civilization. But these days, the use of paper is not limited to writing. It is also playing a pivotal role in ushering in a greener future.

Lightweight and thin paper-based devices help reduce dependence on metal or plastic materials, while at the same time being easier to dispose of...

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Researchers Fabricate Novel Flexible Supercapacitors on Paper

Chung-Ang University researchers fabricate novel flexible supercapacitors on paper
Researchers from Chung-Ang University, Korea have fabricated a flexible paper-based high energy storage device that can be used in both parallel and serial single supercapacitor (SC) configurations without modifying external wires and circuits. The equivalent circuits and corresponding electrochemical performance data are shown on the bottom right. Credit: Dr. Inho Nam and Prof. Suk Tai Chang from Chung-Ang University, Korea

Wearable devices such as smartwatches, fitness trackers, and virtual reality headsets are becoming commonplace. They are powered by flexible electronics that consist of electrodes with plastic or metal foil as substrates. However, both of these come with their own drawbacks...

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Human-Machine Interfaces work Underwater, Generate their Own Power

Human-machine interfaces work underwater, generate their own power
(Left) Photo of the magnetoelastic sensor array, which conforms to human skin and can function even when exposed to liquid. It can interact with a music speaker’s command components: play, pause, next, and previous. (Right two) The self-powered magnetoelastic sensor array is rollable and stretchable. Credit: The Jun Chen Research Group at UCLA: junchenlab.com

Wearable human-machine interface devices, HMIs, can be used to control machines, computers, music players, and other systems. A challenge for conventional HMIs is the presence of sweat on human skin.

In Applied Physics Reviews, scientists at UCLA describe their development of a type of HMI that is stretchable, inexpensive, and waterproof...

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