Transformative electronics reconfigure into wearables

Rigid electronic devices could reconfigure into wearable devices following the development of so-called 'transformative electronics systems' at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.

A team working under Prof Jae-Woong Jeong from the School of Electrical Engineering at KAIST invented the multifunctional electronic platform that can mechanically transform its shape, flexibility, and stretchability. Reported in Science Advancesthe platform us claimed to allow users to precisely tune its stiffness and shape.

"This new class of electronics will not only offer robust, convenient interfaces for use in both tabletop or handheld setups, but also allow seamless integration with the skin when applied onto our bodies," Prof Jeong said in a statement.

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The transformative electronics consist of a gallium metal structure, hermetically encapsulated and sealed within a soft silicone material, combined with electronics that are designed to be flexible and stretchable. The mechanical transformation of the electronic systems is specifically triggered by temperature changes that are controlled by the user.

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