Artificial Skin

Abstract

This article presents a brief overview of advent and future of the concept of artificial skin. Sensorized electronic skins are an essential element in wearable computing and co-robotic systems that engage in physical interaction with humans. Wearable computing is a rapidly growing sub-domain in the electronics industry and has the potential to transform how we work, play, get information, and interact with others. Due to its close connection to personal electronics and fashion, artificial skin technologies represent a good opportunity for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) outreach at the middle- and high-school levels. Wearable technology is a promising path to STEM education, since it is relevant to the daily experiences of teens and pre-teens, regardless of their social, cultural, and economic background. Middle-school students are an especially appropriate target, since they have adequate intellectual preparation for hardware prototyping but are still at the earliest stages of developing their academic interests.