Printable electronics aren't exactly anything new at this point, but there's still some considerable limitations when it comes to using them in wearable devices. A team of researchers from the University of Tokyo say they've now made a significant breakthrough on that front, however — one that could lead to electronics that are as simple to print and as a wearable as a screen-printed T-shirt.
The key, as the researchers explain in their announcement, is that the printing can be done in a single step with a new type of conductive ink that's far more stretchable than most alternatives. Indeed, the researchers say the ink, comprised of silver flakes, organic solvent, fluorine rubber and fluorine surfactant, can be stretched to fully three times its original length while still retaining a high degree of conductivity.
That, they say, could open up a number of new potential applications for wearable electronics that haven't been possible to date, and they've already demonstrated one example in the form of an elastic wristband that can measure muscle activity. From there, they say it's not much of a leap to envision all sorts of sportswear replete with sensors, which could one day make measuring your vitals when you go for a run as simple as pulling on a T-shirt.
[via TechCrunch]
