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File this under What Will They Think of Next: MIT Media Lab and Microsoft are working on creating electronic tattoos that can connect with smartphones and PCs.

Researchers have developed a temporary tattoo called DuoSkin that links up with mobile devices and PCs to act as a display or controller of the device and to communicate with other devices via near-field communication, according to a report in Tech Times.

From the report:

DuoSkin, as described by MIT researchers on the project's dedicated page, is a fabrication process that allows for the creation of customized functional devices that can be attached onto the skin of users.

According to MIT Media Lab PhD student Cindy Hsin-Liu Kao, the project originated from the growing trend of metallic temporary tattoos, making DuoSkin a combination of existing fashion with useful functions in the connected world.

Kao states that in Taiwan, there is a huge culture of street fashion and cosmetics that is accessible and affordable enough to allow people to change their appearance whenever they would like to do so. The team of researchers for DuoSkin wanted to accomplish the same thing with the project.

The temporary tattoos used in DuoSkin are made out of gold metal leaf, which is a cheap and skin-friendly material that can be used for everyday wear. This is the same material that can sometimes be seen on top of desserts, and it is being used for DuoSkin due to its low price and basic conductivity…

Kao said that the technology could find its way into tattoo parlors in the future, especially with the customization options covering not only the design of the tattoos, but also their functions. DuoSkin could prove to be a great alternative to more cumbersome pieces of wearable technology such as smartwatches.

Read the full report here.

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