University of Tokyo

Imperceptible Thin Film Sensor to Record Movement and Touch

Researchers have developed an ultrathin pressure sensor that can be attached directly to the skin. It can measure how fingers interact with objects to produce useful data for medical and technological applications. The sensor has minimal effect on the users' sensitivity and ability to grip objects, and it is resistant to disruption from rubbing.

Wearable Sensor to Help ALS Patients Communicate

People with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis suffer from a gradual decline in their ability to control their muscles. As a result, they often lose the ability to speak, making it difficult to communicate with others.

Printing Organic Transistors

High-speed low-power printed transistors could lead to new display technologies. Researchers have successfully printed and demonstrated organic transistors, electronic switches, which can operate close to their theoretical speed limits.

Self-Healing Devices Gain or Regain Function After Being Cut

A "smart" polymer cast that automatically seals itself around a broken arm, a membrane that can sense where it has been cut, and pneumatic actuators that can be cut and reconfigured into different shapes are some possible applications for a new self-healing material.

Electrics and Electronics Becomes User-Dedicated Smart Material

An important new trend is buying electrics and electronics you customise to function not just shape. See the new IDTechEx report, "Complete Electronics as Smart Material, User-Customized 2020-2040". Builders, textile manufacturers, those doing home improvement and others are starting to buy electrically-smart materials direct from materials companies, bypassing the electronics industry.

Ultralight, Flexible and Wearable Solar Cells

An ultralight flexible solar cell, 10 times thinner than the width of a human hair, could hold the key to promising power sources for future wearable technology.

Coffee Grounds Show Promise as Biodgradable Material

Demand for cellulose nanofibers is increasing worldwide, as industries realize their potential as a more environmentally sound and sustainable way to produce plastics.

Battery Chemistry Promises Safer High-Voltage Lithium-Ion Batteries

For the first time, researchers have found a new way to improve lithium-ion batteries. They successfully increased not only the voltage delivery of a lithium-ion battery but also its ability to suppress dangerous conditions that affect the current range of batteries. This improved lithium-ion battery could make longer journeys in electric vehicles possible and lead to the creation of a new generation of home energy storage, both with improved fire safety.

E-Skin Camera-less Motion Capture System

Xenoma develops the next-generation smart apparel 'e-skin' to provide well-being and happiness in your daily life. As it can be worn comfortably, the e-skin is one of the most ideal interfaces to monitor the user's activity and vital information unobtrusively. Founded in November 2015 as a spin-out from the University of Tokyo and collaborating with Japanese apparel manufacturing and trading companies, Xenoma works across many industries and sectors to achieve "Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Through Entertainment".

Bluetooth Leggings Allows for Integrated Motion Capture

Xenoma develops the next-generation smart apparel 'e-skin' to provide well-being and happiness in your daily life. As it can be worn comfortably, the e-skin is one of the most ideal interfaces to monitor the user's activity and vital information unobtrusively. Founded in November 2015 as a spin-out from the University of Tokyo and collaborating with Japanese apparel manufacturing and trading companies, Xenoma works across many industries and sectors to achieve "Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Through Entertainment".

Thin Sensor Measures Fingerprints, Veins and Pulse Waves

A thin image sensor that allows for both high-speed readout and high-resolution imaging.