Smart wearables of the future will be able to use body heat to power themselves. In fact, a prototype of a wireless sensor patch that can monitor hydration levels and use body heat as an energy source was unveiled at CES 2016. Researchers at North Carolina State University’s Center for Advanced Self-Powered Systems of Integrated Sensors are behind this idea.
This flexible wearable measures 7 square centimeters and can produce 50 microwatts of electricity per square centimeter as long as it is attached to your skin. It can produce enough energy to run a low-power processor and sensors. Wearers will be able to access their data on their smartphone. IEEE Spectrum has the full story. We can’t wait to see how this idea further develops in the future.