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‘Tech Tattoos’ Could Replace Wearable Fitness Trackers

One company is taking the idea of wearable fitness trackers one step further with the creation of ‘tech tattoos’ that can monitor vital signs.

The biometric tattoos combine a micro-controller, LED lights and conductive inks to create a circuit board on the surface of the wearer’s skin.

Applied like a a temporary tattoo, the new tech from Austin, Texas-based developers Chaotic Moon was showcased in a YouTube video and can be used to monitor data such as heart rate, body temperature and location.

The data is then transmitted wirelessly to a smartphone app or computer.

This means that it could be used for fitness tracking as well as for health monitoring, potentially enabling doctors to remotely keep an eye on their patients’ vital signs.

The tech could also be used for contactless banking payments as its proximity to the skin would theoretically make it less easy to steal than a physical wallet.

There are various other possible uses including child tracking capability for parents when visiting a crowded venue.

While the tech is still at prototype stage, biometric tattoos could eventually replace fitness trackers like the Fitbit and Jawbone Up.

Image credit: Chaotic Moon