I admire the artistry and commitment of tattoos, but they’re not for me. (Too fickle to settle on a design, and I’m kind of wimp when it comes to pain.) But some recent tattoo-related tech news has me pondering. What if my tattoo could glow, or monitor my health? Or how about a temporary QR Code that links to an appropriate song?
- People Keep Getting QR Codes Tattooed on Their Body [Vice] “Tattoos are a way to capture a significant memory on your skin, a permanent-ish stamp that tells a story or, at the very least, a design you vibe with. But in the world of QR codes, the ink can be scanned to become songs, resumés, Instagram profiles and even…. wait for it… vaccine certificates.”
- Wave this device over your skin and test out a temporary tattoo design for a few days [Mashable] “With Prinker’s Tattoo Device, you can customize and print any tattoo design, then transfer it directly to the skin, where it will last up to three days… a foolproof way to live life to the fullest — without regret later.”
- Disappearing Tattoos Set Off Existential Debate [New York Times] “A company has engineered a body ink that disappears in 15 months or less, setting off an existential debate about commitment.”
- Could electric tattoos be the next step in body art? [BBC] “One day it will be possible to embed all necessary components in the transferable tattoo itself – including a sensor to monitor someone’s vital signs such as heart rate or skin hydration, and a power source to keep the device working for a few hours, at least.”
From the Ohio Web Library:
- Mims, Christopher. “Electronic Tattoos. (Cover Story).” Scientific American, vol. 307, no. 6, Dec. 2012, p. 44.
- Stankiewicz K, Jalian HR, Chuang G, Shofner J, Anderson RR. “Searching for optimal tattoo removal: a side-by-side comparison.” Lasers in surgery and medicine., 2012, 44(4), 350.
- Temming, Maria. “Temporary Electronic Tattoo Is 3-D Printed.” Science News, vol. 194, no. 1, July 2018, p. 5.
