Browse Topic: Consumer electronics
An invention that uses microchip technology in implantable devices and other wearable products such as smart watches can be used to improve biomedical devices including those used to monitor people with glaucoma and heart disease.
A major challenge in self-powered wearable sensors for health care monitoring is distinguishing different signals when they occur at the same time. Researchers from Penn State and China’s Hebei University of Technology addressed this issue by uncovering a new property of a sensor material, enabling the team to develop a new type of flexible sensor that can accurately measure both temperature and physical strain simultaneously but separately to more precisely pinpoint various signals.
A team of researchers has developed self-powered, wearable, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based contact layers for monitoring cardiovascular health. TENGs help conserve mechanical energy and turn it into power.
As the main power source for modern portable electronic devices and electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are favored for their high energy density and good cycling performance. However, as the usage time increases, battery performance gradually deteriorates, leading to a heightened risk of thermal runaway (TR) increases, which poses a significant threat to safety. Performance degradation is mainly manifested as capacity decline, internal resistance increase and cycle life reduction, which is usually caused by internal factors of LIBs, such as the fatigue of electrode materials, electrolyte decomposition and interfacial chemical reaction. Meanwhile, external factors of LIBs also contribute to performance degradation, such as external mechanical stresses leading to internal structural damage of LIBs, triggering internal short-circuit (ISC) and violent electrochemical reactions. In this paper, the performance degradation of LIBs and TR mechanism is described in detail, as well
Researchers from Skoltech and the University of Texas at Austin have presented a proof-of-concept for a wearable sensor that can track healing in sores, ulcers, and other kinds of chronic skin wounds, even without the need to remove the bandages. The paper was published in the journal ACS Sensors.
A team of engineers is on a mission to redefine mobility by providing innovative wearable solutions to physical therapists, orthotic and prosthetic professionals, and individuals experiencing walking impairment and disability. Co-founded by Ray Browning and Zach Lerner, Portland-based startup Biomotum, aims “to empower mobility by energizing every step” through their wearable robotics technology.
Engineers have developed a wearable ultrasound device that can provide long-term, wireless monitoring of muscle activity with potential applications in healthcare and human-machine interfaces. Designed to stick to the skin with a layer of adhesive and powered by a battery, the device enables high-resolution tracking of muscle function without invasive procedures. In tests, the device was worn over the rib cage to monitor diaphragm motion and thickness, which are useful for assessing respiratory health. By tracking diaphragm activity, the technology could potentially support patients with respiratory conditions and those reliant on mechanical ventilation.
Researchers have developed a new method to pull moisture from the air and turn that water into electricity. The paper-based wearable device provides sustained high-efficiency power output through moisture capture.
Robotics researchers have already made great strides in developing sensors that can perceive changes in position, pressure, and temperature — all of which are important for technologies like wearable devices and human-robot interfaces. But a hallmark of human perception is the ability to sense multiple stimuli at once, and this is something that robotics has struggled to achieve.
There’s some irony in the fact that devices that seem indispensable to modern life — mobile phones, personal computers, and anything battery-powered — depend entirely on minerals extracted from mining, one of the most ancient of human industries. Once their usefulness is spent, we typically return these objects to the Earth in landfills, by the millions.
For many psychiatric patients, the traditional hospital setting can feel isolating and, at times, even stigmatizing. The high costs, limited access to care, and the disruption of being away from home often make inpatient treatment feel like a last resort.
A major challenge in self-powered wearable sensors for healthcare monitoring is distinguishing different signals when they occur at the same time. Researchers from Penn State and China’s Hebei University of Technology addressed this issue by uncovering a new property of a sensor material, enabling the team to develop a new type of flexible sensor that can accurately measure both temperature and physical strain simultaneously but separately to more precisely pinpoint various signals.
A new device aims to detect acute exacerbations of chronic conditions. The wearable monitoring device contains multiple types of sensors, enabling faster and more accurate detection of exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic conditions like asthma, heart disease and other inflammatory disorders. Eventually, the technology may help everyday people monitor their overall health and attune to early warning signs of illness.
Writing in Nature Electronics, the Brown University research team describes a novel approach for a wireless communication network that can efficiently transmit, receive, and decode data from thousands of microelectronic chips that are each no larger than a grain of salt.
This paper presents the development of a cost-effective assistive headgear designed to address the navigation challenges faced by millions of visually impaired individuals in India. Existing solutions are often prohibitively expensive, leaving a significant portion of this population underserved. To address this gap, we propose a novel human-machine interface that utilizes a synergistic combination of computer vision, stereo imaging, and haptic feedback technologies. The focus of this project lies in the creation of a practical and affordable headgear that empowers visually impaired users with real time obstacle detection and navigation capabilities. The solution leverages computer vision for environmental analysis and integrates haptic feedback for intuitive user guidance. This paper details the design intricacies of the headgear, along with the implementation methodologies employed. We present comprehensive testing results and discuss the project's potential to significantly enhance
Researchers have developed a gel polymer-based triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) that generates electrical signals from body movement to power electronics like LEDs and functions as a self-powered touch panel for user identification. The device can stretch up to 375 percent of its original size and withstand rigorous mechanical deformations, making it suitable for wearable applications. TENGs that convert mechanical energy such as body movement to electrical energy offer a solution to power wearable devices without relying on batteries.
Researchers have developed a three-dimensional stretchable piezoelectric energy harvester that can harvest electrical energy using body movements. The device is to be used as a wearable energy harvester as it can be attached to the skin or clothes.
The emergence of data-driven healthcare promises predictive and preventive care through enhanced data integration and analytics. This trend means that medical device companies must navigate challenges related to data privacy and operational efficiency while transitioning to a data-centric approach. Artificial intelligence (AI) is spearheading this shift toward hyper-personalized medicine, enabling precision treatments based on genetic profiles and predictive analytics for early disease detection. Advancements in telemedicine, AI, wearable technology, and data analytics, are reshaping how care is delivered, making it more accessible, personalized, and efficient in 2025.
Researchers in the emerging field of spatial computing have developed a prototype augmented reality headset that uses holographic imaging to overlay full-color, 3D moving images on the lenses of what would appear to be an ordinary pair of glasses. Unlike the bulky headsets of present-day augmented reality systems, the new approach delivers a visually satisfying 3D viewing experience in a compact, comfortable, and attractive form factor suitable for all-day wear.
Biofeedback training is a technology that enhances cognitive and emotional capabilities, empowering peak performance. What sets it apart is the Biocybernetics adaptation systems, which not only collect biofeedback data but also dynamically adjust your environment based on physiological signals. Imagine surroundings adapting — changing lighting, sounds, and more — in response to your biofeedback. Traditionally confined to clinical or training rooms, the real innovation is its integration into daily life. This system offers a new level of self-regulation. Users can navigate daily life venues with real-time insights into their physiological signals, providing continuous feedback and motivation for cognitive and emotional control. Efforts yield positive surroundings, fostering well-being and peak performance.
University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
A team of researchers at the University of California – San Diego has developed a new and improved wearable ultrasound patch for continuous and noninvasive blood pressure monitoring. Their work marks a major milestone, as the device is the first wearable ultrasound blood pressure sensor to undergo rigorous and comprehensive clinical validation on over 100 patients.
There’s some irony in the fact that devices that seem indispensable to modern life — mobile phones, personal computers, and anything battery-powered — depend entirely on minerals extracted from mining, one of the most ancient of human industries. Once their usefulness is spent, we typically return these objects to the Earth in landfills, by the millions.
Wearable devices like smartwatches and fitness trackers interact with parts of our bodies to measure and learn from internal processes, such as our heart rate or sleep stages. Now, MIT researchers have developed wearable devices that may be able to perform similar functions for individual cells inside the body.
Wearable devices that use sensors to monitor biological signals can play an important role in health care. These devices provide valuable information that allows providers to predict, diagnose, and treat a variety of conditions while improving access to care and reducing costs.
Purdue University engineers have developed a method to transform existing cloth items into battery-free wearables resistant to laundering. These smart clothes are powered wirelessly through a flexible, silk-based coil sewn on the textile.
A silicone membrane for wearable devices is more comfortable and breathable thanks to better-sized pores made with the help of citric acid crystals. The new preparation technique fabricates thin, silicone-based patches that rapidly wick water away from the skin. The technique could reduce the redness and itching caused by wearable biosensors that trap sweat beneath them. The technique was developed by bioengineer and professor Young-Ho Cho and his colleagues at KAIST and reported in the journal Scientific Reports.
A recent study combines three-dimensional embroidery techniques with machine learning to create a fabric-based sensor that can control electronic devices through touch.
Scientists have developed an innovative wearable fabric that is flexible but can stiffen on demand. Developed through a combination of geometric design, 3D printing, and robotic control, the new technology, RoboFabric, can quickly be made into medical devices or soft robotics.
In the future, power sockets used to recharge smartphones, tablets, and laptops could become obsolete. The electricity would then come from our own clothes. By means of a new polymer that is applied on textile fibers, clothing could soon function as solar collectors and thus as a mobile energy supply.
A flexible and stretchable cell has been developed for wearable electronic devices that require a reliable and efficient energy source that can easily be integrated into the human body. Conductive material consisting of carbon nanotubes, crosslinked polymers, and enzymes joined by stretchable connectors, are directly printed onto the material through screenprinting.
Defying engineering challenges in record time, researchers at the University of Maryland developed a machine learning model that eliminates hassles in materials design to yield green technologies used in wearable heaters.
Advances in IoT and electronic technology are enabling more personalized, continuous medical care. People with medical conditions that require a high degree of monitoring and continuous medication infusion can now take advantage of wearable medicine injection devices to treat their problems. Wireless communication allows medical personnel to monitor and adjust the amount and flow rate of an individual’s medication. The small size of the injectors enables the individual to be active and not be burdened or limited by a line-powered instrument (see Figure 1).
Small wearable or implantable electronics could help monitor our health, diagnose diseases, and provide opportunities for improved, autonomous treatments. But to do this without aggravating or damaging the cells around them, these electronics will need to not only bend and stretch with our tissues as they move, but also be soft enough that they will not scratch and damage tissues.
Detecting diseases early requires the rapid, continuous and convenient monitoring of vital biomarkers. Researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) have developed a novel sensor that enables the continuous, real-time detection of solid-state epidermal biomarkers (SEB), a new category of health indicators.
Detecting diseases early requires the rapid, continuous and convenient monitoring of vital biomarkers. Researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) have developed a novel sensor that enables the continuous, and real-time detection of solid-state epidermal bio-markers (SEB), a new category of health indicators.
From televisions to smartphones, organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are finding their way into many everyday devices. For use in displays, blue OLEDs are also required to supplement the primary colors — red and green. Especially in blue OLEDs, impurities give rise to strong electrical losses, which could be partly circumvented by using highly complex and expensive device layouts.
Researchers at Tufts School of Engineering have developed a method to detect bacteria, toxins, and dangerous chemicals in the environment with a biopolymer sensor that can be printed like ink on a wide range of materials — including wearables.
For engineers working on soft robotics or wearable devices, keeping things light is a constant challenge: heavier materials require more energy to move around, and — in the case of wearables or prostheses — cause discomfort. Elastomers are synthetic polymers that can be manufactured with a range of mechanical properties, from stiff to stretchy, making them a popular material for such applications. But manufacturing elastomers that can be shaped into complex 3D structures that go from rigid to rubbery has been unfeasible until now.
Rice University Houston, TX
Engineers at UC Berkeley have developed a new technique for making wearable sensors that enables medical researchers to prototype and test new designs much faster and at a far lower cost than existing methods.
A wearable health monitor can reliably measure levels of important biochemicals in sweat during physical exercise. The 3D-printed monitor could someday provide a simple and non-invasive way to track health conditions and diagnose common diseases, such as diabetes, gout, kidney disease or heart disease.
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