E-skin device that 'reads' heart rate

Scientists in Japan have developed an electronic e-skin device which creates digital displays of the human body. Researchers from the University of Tokyo say the discrete e-skin provides details of internal body functions by displaying blood oxygen levels and heart rate. Though it may not be in the Kenyan market soon, the innovation is motivated by a growing global trend where electronic devices, to solve medical dilemmas with gadgets like prosthetics and pacemakers, are becoming increasingly popular. "The advent of mobile phones has changed the way we communicate. While these communication gadgets are getting smaller, they are still discrete devices that we have to carry with us," said lead scientist Prof Takao Someya. "What would the world be like if we had displays that could adhere to our bodies and even show our emotions," he posed. The scientists have expressed optimism that the flexible organic optical sensors may in future be directly laminated on organs to monitor the blood oxygen level during and after surgery.