Scientists create smart OLED tattoos

Scientists from University College London (UCL) and the Italian Institute of Technology have created temporary tattoos equipped with sensors, utilizing and incorporating OLED technology. We are talking about clever tattoos, which will emit light and transmit useful information, in terms of natural human performance or how fresh the food is.

Just like in our childhood, the clever tattoo will be printed on temporary tattoo paper and applied, where pressed (e.g. human hand, apple, or any surface), with the help of water. Then the diodes will emit light when the electric field is applied.

According to the study, the smart tattoo could "light up" when an athlete is dehydrated if combined with a sweat sensor, which monitors the level of hydration. Also, in case the OLEDs are printed on the fruit, they will indicate if it is possible to eat them or if their expiration date has passed. Scientists, in fact, emphasized that the tattoo could be used in cancer patients to provide therapies sensitive to light.

Smart tattoos could alert the user when it’s too sunny to avoid exposure. Scientists say that these types of applications take a long time to develop and evolve, but they don’t overlook the dynamics that new smart tattoos can acquire.