French researchers have taken science WAY TO FAR when they decided to create a new kind of phone case.
Marc Teyssier at Telecom Paris in France and his colleagues have designed an artificial skin that responds to touch.
Teyssier told New Scientist that the human like skin can respond to different gestures:
The artificial skin is programmed to associate different gestures with certain emotions. Sudden hard pressure on the skin is associated with anger and tapping is a means of seeking attention, while sustained contact and stroking are associated with providing comfort.
The team developed two prototypes: one with a creepily realistic textured layer that resembles human skin and another with a more uniform surface.
The artificial skin is made of three layers, consisting of a layer of stretchable copper wire sandwiched between two layers of silicone. Pressure on the skin changes the electric charge of the system.
The Telecom Paris team created a phone case, computer touch pad and smart watch to demonstrate how the artificial skin works and plan to present them at a tech symposium in New Orleans.