Google already has Google Glass, but now it's taking the wearable technology concept a big step further: It's developing an electronic skin tattoo for the throat that can act as a microphone for a smartphone, tablet or other device.
U.S. Patent and Trademark OfficeThis drawing from a Google patent application shows where the electronic tattoo might be placed on a user's neck for communicating via a smartphone or gaming device.
Throat microphones were first worn by pilots during World War II to improve wireless communications between the ground and personnel on noisy airplanes.
Now, Google's Motorola Mobility unit plans to put the microphone on a person's throat via an electronic skin tattoo. The tattoo would communicate over Near-Field Communications, Bluetooth, Infrared or other short-range technology to a nearby smartphone, tablet, wearable computer, gaming device or other mobile computer.
The company filed U.S. patent application 13/462881 on Nov. 7 for "Coupling an electronic skin tattoo to a mobile communication device."
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon