In recent years, scientists have developed a groundbreaking innovation: electronic skin (also known as e-skin), which can mimic the sensitivity of human skin, detecting stimuli such as pressure, temperature and even pain. As this technology evolves, it offers the potential to transform fields like healthcare and prosthetics, opening new doors for real-time health monitoring and advanced medical care. However, as ethical and social debates about data privacy and accessibility emerge, the question arises: Should we embrace this technology? E-skin is a game-changer that will enhance human life. Here’s why.

The journey of electronic skin technology began with early innovations like electroencephalograms (EEG) and cardiac pacemakers, which harnessed the body’s electrical activity. By the 1980s, researchers created flexible sensor arrays inspired by human skin, which Professor Ravinder Dahiya, a professor in the department of electronics and nanoengineering at the University of Glasgow, described as “a crude version of skin.” These arrays, later integrated with microelectronics, paved the way for advanced health monitoring. Advancements in materials science and nanotechnology during the 2000s enabled researchers to enhance the performance, durability, stretchability of e-skin devices, while also introducing new features such as being biodegradable and self-healable.

The potential healthcare benefits of e-skin are compelling. Research conducted by Professor Madhu Bhaskaran and her team at RMIT University have created a sticker sized device which can react to pain, as the artificial skin can convert sensory signals into neural impulses. This is a remarkable feat, as “no electronic technologies have been able to realistically mimic that very human feeling of pain – until now,” as mentioned by Professor Bhaskaran. In a 2020 media release issued by RMIT, she described how our “pain response kicks in at a certain point” and how their “artificial skin reacts instantly when pressure, heat or cold reach a painful threshold.” This significant development opens the door to smarter prosthetics, enabling amputees to ‘feel’ through artificial limbs, restoring sensations and enhancing their quality of life.

Beyond prosthetics, e-skin can act as an alternative to traditional skin grafts. John Rogers, a materials scientist at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, highlights its potential as a “band-aid” solution for burn victims. E-skin maintains its sensitivity to the environment and functionality, as the real skin grows back. Additionally, it features the unique ability to self-heal when damaged. According to Wei Zhang, a professor of Chemistry at the University of Colorado Boulder, E-skin relies on “covalent chemical bonds” that repair breaks within minutes, with the damage becoming undetectable in just 13 minutes. Its durability, recyclability, and self-healing properties make it both cost-effective and sustainable healthcare solutions.        

Additionally, e-skin is also offering immense promise for non-invasive, real-time health monitoring. Armed with a variety of sensors, e-skin can continuously track vital signs such as temperature, hydration, heart rate, blood pressure and even glucose levels. Wei Gao and his research team at the California Institute of Technology has even developed e-skins that can detect chemicals and even viruses, like SARS-CoV-2. Furthermore, with inbuilt EEG, e-skins can even non-invasively measure brain activity, assisting in the diagnosis and treatment of neurological conditions. These capabilities not only revolutionise personal health monitoring but also hold potential for early disease detection and preventative care.

Yet, as we marvel at these possibilities, we must also grapple with the ethical quandaries they present. The E-skin technology could lead to data privacy violations and discriminatory practices by insurers. But while these are valid considerations, they are not insurmountable obstacles. We already trust our smartwatches and other health monitoring devices with vast amounts of personal health data. According to Verizon (a leading Internet of Things expert), 68% of data breaches occur because of “breaches involved a non-malicious human element, like a person falling victim to a social engineering attack or making an error.” With the advent of AI, companies developing E-skin must use advanced data encryption and anonymisation protocols to eliminate the risk of misuse. Additionally, 15% of breaches “involved a third party or supplier, such as software supply chains, hosting partner infrastructures or data custodians.”  With proper regulations and security measures in place, E-skin technology can be just as secure, if not more so. For example, adopting frameworks like the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation could ensure that the data collected by e-skin remains secure and inaccessible to third parties.

To fully realize the benefits of electronic skin, governments, technology companies, and healthcare providers must work together to establish regulations that protect privacy while encouraging innovation. Public awareness campaigns can ensure that consumers are informed about their rights and the safeguards in place. By addressing these concerns head-on, society can embrace the life-changing possibilities of e-skin while minimizing its risks. Let’s seize this opportunity to make electronic skin a force for good.