Adhesive Skin Display Updated in April 2018

Research group led by Professor Takao Someya, University of Tokyo (Graduate School of Engineering), developed a thin, stretchable tight-fitting “skin display” that can be placed or adhered directly onto the body. It can be applied to a wide range of fields like home care of elderly or physically challenged people, as “skin display” can ease and support access to information.
Professor Someya’s group and Dai Nippon Printing’s research team, have co-developed a method for placing 384 small red light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and stretchy wiring onto an ultra-thin rubber sheet and succeeded in making a new type of “skin display.” It is only 1 millimeter thick. The visible portion of this “skin display” is quite flexible. It can stretch or shrink between 3.8-6.4 centimeters vertically, and between 5.8-9.6 centimeters horizontally.
The research team has also developed a sensor that can be affixed to the body. By combining the sensor and the “skin display,” they succeeded in displaying electrocardiogram waves on the surface of one’s hand. “Skin display” is able to support hospitalized elderly people who may have difficulty using information devices like smartphones. It can also be applied to people with disabilities or to small children.
This research was carried out through JST’s funding scheme MIRAI (accelerated exploration category), focusing on projects that create our future society.