A group of scientists from Seoul National University have demonstrated a stretchable touch pad as part of research that aims to tackle some of the problems associated with existing flexible electronics. The soft touch panel can be stretched extensively and maintain its touch sensitivity, while other approaches have seen reactivity decline with use.
The approach, detailed in a paper published
in the journal Science, uses polyacrylamide hydrogels (cross-linked
polymers swollen with water) that are transparent and contain
trapped LiCL (Lithium chloride) to enhance conductivity.
Researchers
believe that the growing importance of human-computer interactions
means in the future touch panels will need
to be stretchable.
They also suggest that biocompatibility will
become important to allow integration with the human
body.
Access article in Science
Via IEEE Spectrum