Project Underskin
Client:
New Deal Design for Fast Company Magazine
San Francisco, CA
2015
A concept created a Fast Company about the future of wearables. The team designed an implanted smart digital tattoo that could work as a key, trade data with a handshake, or even report health stats like low blood sugar with attractive patterned indicators.
How it would work? Project Underskin would be positioned to would wrap around the hand at the thumb. This location was chosen because it is regularly visible when interacting with others and also a very intimately personal a location. Powered by the body’s electro-chemical energy, Underskin would use NFC signal to engage with the world and express what is going on inside the body as a health barometer.
Link to the Fast Company article
The Device
Project Underskin device rendering
Chart of the themes of patterns displayed on the device. Different patterns indicates different aspects of the wearers personality and functionality depending on the context.
How It Works
Examples of the device in use.
An example of the device as a personal wellness indicator.
A handshake could be a exchange of contact information shared via NFC.
When multiple devices are used together they can show intimacy or connection like a tattoo.
Payment methods could use Underskin to authenticate the use of a digital payment card similar to two factor authentication.
Underskin can also act as a key authenticating a digital lock rather than using a phone app.
Screenshot of the Fast Company article.
The Team
Andrew Sawyer
Jaeha Yoo
Jen Phannguyen
Val Tsang/Williams
Jon Patterson
Ben Wong
Patrick Drake
Erica Jack