Today on Engineering Newswire, we’re smoothing away wrinkles with a revolutionary material, keeping up with the action in sliding stadium seating, and controlling a wheelchair through facial expressions.
New Material Makes Wrinkles Disappear
Scientists at MIT have now developed a new invisible polymer coating that can temporarily protect and tighten skin, and smooth wrinkles. With further development, the material could also deliver drugs to help treat eczema and other types of dermatitis.
The silicone-based polymer acts as a second skin, and is applied in two stages. First, a chemical structure, called siloxane, which is made up of alternating atoms of silicon and oxygen, is first spread out over the skin in a clear cream. Then, a platinum catalyst is applied, which turns the siloxane into a cross-linked polymer layer.
Sliding Stadium Seating
Stadium seating at sporting events is tricky. If you get stuck on the far end of a field, you’ll most likely need binoculars to see what’s going on on the other side.
Thankfully, Samsung has sensed your pain, and has come up with a solution. Aptly named the Slider, Samsung’s movable seats race up and down the field, staying where the action is. The tech company is offering seats on the sliding bench at upcoming rugby games taking place later this month at London’s Twickenham Stadium.
Wheelchair Controlled by Facial Expressions
Brazilian researchers have developed a wheelchair system that can be controlled through facial, head, or iris movements. The University of Campinas team believes the technology could help people with cerebral palsy, those who have suffered a stroke, or people who live with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
They built their prototype from a standard motorized wheelchair, but removed the joystick and added sensors that can determine the distance between walls and other objects, in addition to picking up variations on floor surfaces.