You could soon control your smartwatch with your skin

NEW DELHI: Smartwatches can be considered one of the hottest categories in wearable computing. Nearly all big names in technology (e.g. Samsung, Motorola, Apple) industry have products in the segment, with impressive software and app ecosystems to match. But fiddling with a smartwatch’s tiny screen when it’s strapped to your wrist isn’t always a very comfortable experience.

However, this could soon become a thing of the past, thanks to the new ‘SkinTrack’ technology.


Developed by the at , the ‘SkinTrack’ technology is capable of turning your skin into an extension of a smartwatch’s touchscreen.

The technology involves a ring that generates a continuous high-frequency AC signal, paired with a sensing wristband that goes under the smartwatch.

When the finger on which the ring is worn makes contact with the skin, a high-frequency electrical signal is spread across the arm of the user. The distance between the ring and four pairs of electrodes in the wristband is then used to triangulate the position of the user's finger in 2D space.

SkinTrack technology is so accurate that you can use the back of your hand to do everything, from dialling numbers to scrolling through apps. It’s even possible to play games using this technology.


These days touchscreens are the primary way of interacting with majority of gadgets including smartphones, tablets, and computers. And even though there are some innovations (e.g. Apple’s 3D Touch) going on in the field, ‘SkinTrack’ technology could really be the breakthrough our devices need.

It could lead to even smaller gadgets and even those with no touchscreens at all.

Watch the video below to know more about 'SkinTrack' tech:

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