Over the years, the idea of smart tattoos has been increasingly explored and experimented with. It has given rise to more than just a few inventions, including Google’s E-Tattoo, L’Oreal’s UV Patchand NewDealDesign’s Underskin. A wide range of features has also been introduced, including generation of electricity from sweat, measurement of blood alcohol levels and elimination of background noise when communicating with mobile devices. A more recent variation is a collaboration between Microsoft Research and MIT: DuoSkin. But with countless other alternatives, what makes DuoSkin so special?

The idea behind DuoSkin is fairly simple: creating a personalized, temporary interactive surface from which a user can control various mobile devices, such as a smartphone. Creating a DuoSkin tattoo is simpler than most would think. Essentially, after designing and cutting out a circuitry design, you would apply gold leaf to its surface (an electrical conductor) and transfer it to your skin just as you would a normal temporary tattoo.

As of now, DuoSkin serves three main functions: to be a mobile interface between devices, indicate temperature change through heat-sensitive color changing features and transferring or receiving data through NFC (near field communication). The most appealing part of DuoSkin, however, is customization and personalization. As does any kind of body art, DuoSkin allows users to express themselves through its intricate yet simplistic designs, attracting the attention of all users who seek to make a personal statement through outward appearance. It is a striking contrast to other devices such as Skinput, a bulky contraption fitted with an armband and pico-projector that virtually transforms the body into “an input surface.”

In addition to its aesthetic appeal and convenient method of appliance, DuoSkin is much cheaper to produce. According to this article by Carmen Drahl, DuoSkin uses an imitation gold leaf that combines gold leaf and copper, which reduces material costs and effectively acts as conductors of heat and electricity, allowing for color changing features, easy manipulation due to malleability and, of course, touchpad function.

Although DuoSkin is currently not on sale, it has peaked the interests of many investors and potential consumers, generating excitement as the Microsoft-MIT team gets ready to present its creation to a global audience at the International Symposium on Wearable Computers in September. With the introduction of DuoSkin, we can actively look forward to it not only as a single invention, but as a benchmark in the development of “on-skin electronics” and as yet another example of continuous improvement in modern technology.