Digital tattoo enables arm-based conversations, constant health monitoring

Okay, so this whole digital tattoo concept still seems more reasonable than littering one's body with Zune imagery or the BSOD message, but we're still a tad creeped out. Dreamed up by Jim Mielke, this minuscule, implantable display would reportedly connect to an artery and a vein for its power and could display caller ID information as well as video chats right on one's arm. Best of all, this thing won't become the source of all kinds of regret when you head over the hill, as it could also be used to constantly monitor certain aspects of your health and give you a heads-up if anything goes awry. If you're not squirming in your seat at the mere thought of this, it may indeed be right down your alley -- one day, that is.

[Thanks, D]

[Carbonize @ Feb 22nd 2008 3:07AM]

Looking at that it would not only be a display but a touch screen. Now all we need is a computer in our skulls that it can connect to and all our sci fi wet dreams will start to become reality.

[Superprime @ Feb 22nd 2008 3:46AM]

"Dreaming" this stuff up is nothing new. Half the people on this planet have come up with this idea. None of the artsy fartsy types that claim this as "their new invention" every few months has any idea how to make this real.

Less designer talk, more engineering please

[Gorillamonk @ Feb 22nd 2008 10:32AM]

I want one. Maybe two, for call waiting.

[zevdawg @ Feb 22nd 2008 3:12AM]

Glitch! Health Monitor!

[Jack @ Feb 22nd 2008 3:40AM]

kudos on the reboot reference

[Chowdder @ Feb 22nd 2008 3:13AM]

"Note to self....can you hear me now?"

[David W. @ Feb 22nd 2008 3:17AM]

What about really hairy people...like robin williams?

[xthaox @ Mar 5th 2008 5:19PM]

Well, hairy people -> WAXING

[Darkroom @ Feb 22nd 2008 3:26AM]

talk about a painful update... not sure i'd feel so happy with first generation iPod implanted into my arm...

[OhMickey @ Feb 22nd 2008 3:47AM]

iPod implants in your arm?....
.... THATS where they go? --in your arm?
...



damn!

[nih @ Feb 22nd 2008 4:16AM]

The Oh-My-Bod iPod 'implant' goes somewhere else entirely. In fact, you have options.

[abelIAN @ Feb 22nd 2008 3:41AM]

the mark, the mark of the beast! holy crap, the end times are near.

[MastrCake @ Feb 22nd 2008 3:47AM]

Daaaamnn.... that's some "A Beautiful Mind" shit!!! Only cooler!!!

[trevor @ Feb 22nd 2008 3:53AM]

You might not need to connect it to an artery or vein; you could use some of these instead:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7241040.stm

And being hairy would be a perk!

[Michael LaFramboise @ Feb 22nd 2008 3:53AM]

so does this support multi-touch? hope it doesn't, or people will be pinching/stretching you just for a demo :p

[DHood @ Feb 22nd 2008 1:35PM]

That just opens up more placement possibilities ;p

[PortPowerKS @ Mar 22nd 2008 6:23PM]

I don't wanna think of the mobile pr0n app for this..!

[nih @ Feb 22nd 2008 4:13AM]

This is the sort of thing where you wait for it to be *good* before doing it. Good meaning painless, reversible, simple and feature-rich.

Please come back when application is as simple as sprinkling some magic dust on your arm.

[muelibiry @ Feb 22nd 2008 4:22AM]

wow....nice but wat would happen when sum1 ask ur arm to make a call...lolz,,,,now i believe that the MATRIX could be true...just think if wouldn't like to be able to install any martial arts or a program to ur self....

[TheGringo @ Feb 22nd 2008 4:25AM]

Come on you all know how cool it would be to play n64 roms ON YOUR ARM though right...?

[Cujo @ Feb 25th 2008 10:00AM]

OMG that is SUCH a lame comment... LOL!

[fanman @ Feb 22nd 2008 4:37AM]

No.

[a child @ Feb 22nd 2008 4:42AM]

will it play doom?

[DefPo3t @ Feb 22nd 2008 5:30AM]

only if you are taking the latest graphic enhancing pill

[ck @ Feb 22nd 2008 6:12AM]

Probably stolen from the OCTattoos in Peter F. Hamilton's Commonwealth Saga.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_Saga

[fALk Gaertner @ Feb 22nd 2008 6:59AM]

I hold prior art - I can´t believe it that this is already been thought of as I put it into a SciFi live-cinema film two years ago :)

If you are interested you can see more here:

http://www.prototypen.com/blog/falk/archive/002089.html

[fALk Gaertner @ Feb 22nd 2008 7:01AM]

just read the comment above - isn´t it strange that people have the same ideas at the same time - collective mind of humanity

[JS @ Feb 22nd 2008 8:08AM]

Does it use an ARM processor?

[akin @ Feb 22nd 2008 8:12AM]

Look at the darn thing, its black and white! After a year, they will sell you the upgrade in color :) After that you will get duo version and then the quad.... Then they will have format wars. Should I buy the tattoo with HD or blu ray on it? Hmmmm

[Galley @ Feb 22nd 2008 8:34AM]

I'd be more inclined to manipulate her digital tattoo if it were on one of her funbags.

[Michael @ Feb 22nd 2008 8:48AM]

This is the sort of thing that needs to be on the back page of a Wired magazine.

Come on Engadget... since when do you report on art projects? This isn't real technology, it's not even a theoretical technology... it's some dream product that doesn't even have real science to back it up!

[Special_K @ Feb 22nd 2008 10:40AM]

Thank you, you took the words right out of my mouth. "Blood fuel cell"‽ I mean, sure, there are glucose-oxygen fuel cells in the works, so power may not be an issue; but no, this makes no sense. He seems to have the ideas of e-ink and LCD mixed up (manipulating e-ink particles using LCD principles), and essentially proposes injecting "e-ink" into the skin (I'm pretty sure this is how he'd explain it in layman's terms). As we should know, this has no basis in reality. To those saying he stole this idea, I agree: he stole it from anyone who ever drew a cell phone on their wrist (eg, me in 5th grade). This is why engineers are inventors: because they understand science, and don't just go "Hey, you know that new e-ink stuff? Well what if we could inject it into the skin, and use it like a computer? That'll win me first place in that obscure design competition for sure!"

(PS, why was this an entry in a Greener Gadgets competition?)

[Jonathan @ Feb 22nd 2008 9:08AM]

Miam eInk?

[monitron @ Feb 22nd 2008 9:42AM]

Leela from Futurama: "According to this thing on my wrist...."

[OddIdea @ Feb 22nd 2008 9:53AM]

But will it blend?

[Earl Jr. @ Feb 22nd 2008 9:59PM]

Yes, but it will be a bit painful.

[Gleidus @ Feb 22nd 2008 10:02AM]

i'd love to see somebody sleeved out with these

[Derwin @ Feb 22nd 2008 10:20AM]

I only see animated tattoos in my future. No more do people have to flex their muscles to make their tattoos speak or dance.

[ma5t3rw1tt @ Feb 22nd 2008 10:26AM]

Now thats what I call technology. When your at work, send a quick text to your girlfriend or something. Or maybe when sitting in school, send text messages & things. This idea is insane, but I like it. Also, with the health part is concerned, thats a great idea I think. Nice find Engadget!

[Adolph Trudeau @ Feb 22nd 2008 10:35AM]

The Dark Mark! He is summoning us!

[penguinshogun @ Feb 22nd 2008 10:35AM]

This is what I have been waiting for, I want a tattoo but I am really indecisive, Hopefully someone doesn't hack it to only show goatse

[Kate @ Feb 22nd 2008 10:59AM]

I don't like to imagine the world where my arm could go off while I'm making love.

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Feb 22nd 2008 11:19AM]

The PORN Industry will love this. imagine porn right above your hand.......right above your ........

[edzy @ Feb 22nd 2008 12:02PM]

AW man someone keeps hacking my thoughts during tests at school.
I accidentally clicked opened some spam and got a free trojan. But is it for me OR is it a virus.


Oh no random pop ups!

I can definitely see this on the "things that may be linked to cancer "list. But at least you could go into "suspend mode" until there is a cure.

[Hyperion2010 @ Feb 22nd 2008 12:03PM]

Hell yes! I've always wanted a watch tatooed onto my arm :D Now if only it could sync up via NTP too....

[CHRISTina FAITH @ Feb 22nd 2008 12:39PM]

Thats taking it toooo far for me. Sounds like another way to monitor your activity. I will pass!

[Myk @ Feb 22nd 2008 1:35PM]

So ummm, they didnt think of Black people?
What the hell am i supposed to do now?

[edzy @ Feb 22nd 2008 2:03PM]

illuminated keyboard ;)

[Vortex @ Feb 24th 2008 1:48PM]

Have you ever seen a "black" person with a tattoo?

edzy: LOL.

Another option is removing melanocytes from an area and using a screen with skin-color pigmentation. The screen could show that color for off pixels and deactivate pigments for on (like white text on a black background).

[captain underpants and the bringdown gang @ Feb 22nd 2008 1:49PM]

There is a book, pandoras star that details this EXACT technology. (of course in the future its used as all sorts of other things)