This story from Mashable has revealed how a new tatoo-style device may offer mobile phone users the chance to have a small piece of fabric fitted under their skin to alert them when their phone rings or receives a text.
A patent for the device has been filed by Nokia, describing “a piece of fabric that can be attached to your skin, that will also alert you when you have a call.”
The article also says that vibrations could be “customised” so they differentiate between people who are contacting you.
For deaf people, the device raises all kinds of exciting possibilities.
Deaf parents could stop having to wear a buzzer to alert them to their baby’s cry, or the doorbell going off, as well as the smoke alarm.
Perhaps in public places it could be adapted so it would alert a deaf person if there was an emergency, such as a fire or a terrorist threat.
The device seems some way off, but these are exciting times. For now, here’s a video showing how it works…
By Charlie Swinbourne, editor
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Maria Grazia Zedda (@wideaware)
March 26, 2012
I think this goes a bit too far. If you miss a call, so what – we Deafies are used to it, it happens all the time!
As far as being alerted to an emergency or a fire, that is a good point but there are vibrating devices that can be used whilst you’re sleeping, such as vibrating pillow devices or the lights flickering.
But having something artificial inserted in your skin can have many complications – as many women who use contraceptive implants will tell you.
And I guess, I hope that in an emergency my co-workers and neighbours will look out for me, just as I would look out for them 🙂
J.J.
March 26, 2012
I would love this. I would no longer need an alarm clock when traveling or need to buy a BIG vibrator for my bed at home which causes my mattress to have a slight bump in it.
Lucky
March 27, 2012
I respectfully disagree with Maria Grazia Zedda. Some of us depend on our phones for work. I’m a freelance CDI. I get my calls via my phone. If I miss, the job goes to someone else. I would like to think this vibrating tattoo would enhance the poor vibrations of my iphone!
Lucky