The Future will be Flexible
Computer circuits have traditionally been rigid squares of metal or plastic, which have not worked well with direct organic interface such as in a human body. That is currently changing. John Rogers, a professor at the University of Illinois, has been researching and creating an electronic circuit that he applies directly onto human tissue without interfering with movement.
In conjunction with Yonggang Huang, a professor from Northwest University, Rogers has created a stretchable electronic circuit. When Rogers puts one of the circuits onto living tissue, the circuit can move freely with the natural movements of the organism. This opens up an entire range of possible uses for this new technology.
These small circuits are made of silicon, with tiny wavy structures across the surface of the thinner-than-a-hair circuits. Some news sources have dubbed them “electronic tattoos” because they can be applied on the skin in a similar manner to temporary tattoos.
Rogers has prototypes that can easily monitor muscle movements, brain waves, and heart beats. These monitoring circuits are reportedly just as effective as the traditional devices currently in use. More importantly, though, is what Rogers calls an “electronic sock” which can be put around a living heart to monitor and stop arrhythmias. By administering a low-level electric shock, the “sock” could correct irregular heartbeats.
In the future, Rogers envisions a circuit that doctors could place directly on the brain in order to stop seizures before they even started. This circuit would detect abnormal brain activity and administer an electrical current to stop the seizures before they cause any damage. He also mentions that because the electronic circuits are small and flexible they could monitor premature babies in a less invasive manner.
Not only do flexible circuits have applications as medical technology, but when they become available for computer manufacturers, it can and will blow the computers we know out of the water. Although the flexible circuits are still a ways off from actual applications, this development sparks the imagination. What might the future look like when we build all technology around flexible circuits? The amazing devices we will have when we design computers around stretchable circuits are barely even imaginable now. At the very least, we could easily have computers the size of a piece of paper that we can roll up and take with us everywhere. At most, who knows what the next few generations will create using flexible circuits?
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