Scientists in China have developed a thin, flexible sticker that can turn subtle hand, finger, and mouth motions into words or commands. The new wearable sensor, developed by researchers at the Guilin University of Electronic Technology and Beijing Normal University, could support assistive technologies for people who struggle with basic movements, such as those with disabilities or patients recovering from conditions such as strokes.
The researchers developed sensors using 2- by 4-centimeter patches of soft, flexible silicone rubber, a material that can be worn for a long time without irritating the skin. The scientists embedded fiber optics that contained etches called fiber Bragg gratings into the silicone rubber patches, which were between 1 and 3 millimeters thick. The new sensors could detect slight changes in the wavelengths of light that flow through the devices when the optical fibers are stretched or bent.
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