back to article Bio-integrated circuitry melds man and machine

If you want to marry rigid silicon with soft, stretchy human tissue, it's best to create silicon devices that can conform, stretch, and live in harmony with living flesh. So says University of Illinois professor John Rogers, who provided an update on his work with bio-integrated and transient electronics to the attendees of …

COMMENTS

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  1. Zaphod.Beeblebrox
    Terminator

    Where is Captain Cyborg when you need him?

    1. Mike Moyle
      Devil

      When do you need him?

      1. Graham Dawson Silver badge

        If the doors jammed and you haven't got a battering ram handy, perhaps?

  2. Neil Barnes Silver badge

    to marry rigid silicon with soft, stretchy human

    I don't think the new government marriage proposals go quite that far.

  3. John Smith 19 Gold badge
    Thumb Up

    Now this *is* clever

    Turning something as stiff as a wafer of single crystal Silicon into something you can fold like paper (Silicon origami anyone?).

    Then finding a way to handle stretching as well.

    2 problems are obvious.

    Do you build up these layers or strip them from wafers? At 15 atoms a time a single wafer could last a long time.

    Like most disposable electronics proposals it still leaves a lot of device types you'd want to have (batteries, LEDs, displays, piezoelectric elements) left to be integrated.

    On the up side it could work with SiGe and that handles RF devices, and being at heart single crystal Si leverages all the process tricks that already exist for high quality, high frequency devices.

    Stick on Alcohol warning alarm for people who don't realise they are over the limit?

    Thumbs up for a genuine viable new piece of technology.

    1. frank ly
      Happy

      Re: Now this *is* clever

      "Stick on Alcohol warning alarm for people who don't realise they are over the limit?"

      Do you think they'd pay any attention to it?

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Pint

        Re: Now this *is* clever

        Couple it with a nice electric shock powered by their car if they tried to start it up while over the limit and they might :)

        1. rurwin
          Thumb Up

          Re: Now this *is* clever

          Cars now have RFID detection which prevents the car starting if you haven't paid the manufacturer £100.

          So instead of detecting the keys, it could detect the implant, which would refuse to play ball if you've had a drink. That'd be an invasion of privacy too far in the main, but it might be a way for drink-drivers to retain their license if it were vital for their livelihood.

      2. Dan 55 Silver badge
        Terminator

        Re: Now this *is* clever

        Directive 4.

      3. John Smith 19 Gold badge
        Happy

        Re: Now this *is* clever

        "Do you think they'd pay any attention to it?"

        It's an idea that could generate revenue.

        I didn't say it was a goodidea.

  4. hplasm
    Terminator

    Ultimate iDevice

    "If you think about an iPhone," he said, "it's a wonderful tool, but what if you wanted to take this kind of device functionality and wrap it around your brain?"

    Fanborg.

    I'd call it a downgrade.

    1. Thomas 4

      Re: Ultimate iDevice

      The iHead.

      The electronics are glued to your skull, so when you want an upgrade you have to see Apple Technician Robespierre.

  5. squigbobble
    Facepalm

    "...that he popped into his mouth and swallowed."

    Reminds me of Thomas Midgely Jr. demonstrating the safety of tetraethyl lead. Hopefully this'll go a bit better for Rogers.

    1. John Smith 19 Gold badge
      Facepalm

      Re: "...that he popped into his mouth and swallowed."

      "Reminds me of Thomas Midgely Jr. demonstrating the safety of tetraethyl lead. Hopefully this'll go a bit better for Rogers."

      Amazed the EPA ever licensed it.

      Oh wait.....

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