Electronic tattoos: Printing on human skin

• Author:
• Author name

  Quantumrun Foresight
• November 16, 2021

E-tattoos, or electronic skin patches, are transforming the way we monitor health, manage chronic conditions, and express ourselves. These wearable technologies can track real-time health data, change colors based on physiological parameters, and even serve as interactive interfaces for controlling devices. However, as e-tattoos become more prevalent, they raise important questions about privacy and biodata security.

Electronic tattoo context

The concept of e-tattoos, or electronic skin patches, has been around since the late 2000s, but it wasn't until the last decade that the technology began to catch up with the vision. These e-tattoos are capable of monitoring physiological parameters, such as muscle and heart activity, offering a new way to track health data in real-time. 

Researchers from Seoul National University took this concept a step further in 2016, developing a prototype for a sugar-level monitoring tattoo that could not only detect high blood sugar levels but also administer the necessary insulin dosage. This development marked a significant stride in the field of wearable health technology, potentially transforming the way we manage chronic conditions like diabetes.

In 2017, researchers from Harvard and MIT took the concept of e-tattoos to a new level with the development of Dermal Abyss, a digital tattoo that could change colors depending on the level of dehydration and glucose levels present on the skin. This technology could potentially serve as a real-time health monitor, providing visual cues about the wearer's health status. 

In 2019, a team at Duke University demonstrated the potential of 3D and circuit printing in the creation of e-tattoos. They were able to print silver nanowires on a pinky finger, which lit up when a voltage was applied, showcasing the potential for e-tattoos to incorporate more complex electronic components.

Disruptive impact

The ability of e-tattoos to change colors and incorporate metallic circuitry could redefine personal expression and identity. Tattoo artists could use this technology to create dynamic, responsive body art that changes with the wearer's mood or health status. This feature could lead to a new form of self-expression, where our bodies become interactive canvases reflecting our internal states.

For businesses, e-tattoos could open up new avenues for product development and customer engagement. Companies could develop e-tattoos that serve as interactive interfaces, allowing users to control devices or access services directly from their skin. For example, a music streaming company could develop an e-tattoo that allows users to control their music playback by tapping or swiping on their skin. However, businesses would need to navigate potential ethical and privacy concerns, ensuring that these technologies are used in a way that respects user autonomy and data privacy.

Governments could use e-tattoos to improve public health monitoring, using real-time data to inform policy decisions. However, this could also raise concerns about privacy and data security. As with any technology, the potential for misuse exists. Hackers could exploit these devices to steal biodata, leading to new forms of cybercrime.

Implications of electronic tattoos

Wider implications of e-tattoos may include:

• Customizable healthcare wearables that are less intrusive, lighter, and more intuitive.


• Tattoo salons offering more expensive digital tattoos that could light up, change colors, and be disabled, as needed.


• Their use on other sensitive surfaces aside from human skin, such as fruits and vegetables for labeling and tracking purposes.


• Their application on livestock and pets to monitor the health of animals in various conditions.


• Increased investment in research and development in skin-based user interfaces for smart technologies, like smartphones and smart homes.


• Policymaking around digital rights and biodata privacy leading to new regulations that balance technological advancement with individual rights.


• More sophisticated sensors, better biocompatible materials, and more energy-efficient devices.


• New job roles, such as e-tattoo designers or biodata analysts.

Questions to consider

• Would you consider getting an e-tattoo? Why or why not?


• How do you think e-tattoos could affect existing health and sports wearables, such as the Apple watch?