Submerged Sensors to Control Wearable Electronics
August 18, 2021 | ACN NewswireEstimated reading time: 1 minute

Flexible and waterproof sensors that could unlock new applications for wearable electronics have been developed by scientists in Korea. Published in the journal Science and Technology of Advanced Materials, the study shows how the pressure sensor can control a phone, to take photos and play music, even when the sensor is fully immersed in water.
The technology could transform the use of wearable electronics in healthcare, smart textiles and for specific applications including scuba diving equipment, say the study researchers, who are based at Soongsil University in Seoul.
"Flexible electronics will usher in a whole new world of wearable technologies to monitor our health and lifestyles," says Jooyong Kim, a materials scientist who led the research. "But until now, many of these applications have been held back because the pressure sensors they rely on could not handle being exposed to water. We have changed that."
To demonstrate the power of the new technology, the researchers incorporated one of the sensors into a flexible face mask. Sensitive enough to detect the movement of air inside the mask, the sensor could track and report the rate of breathing of a wearer in real-time.
The sensor converts tiny movements caused by change in pressure and electrical resistance into electronic signals. Like many similar flexible electronic devices, the design of the circuit was hand-drawn onto a conducting material with a marker-pen, which acts to shield the circuitry when the rest of the material was etched away. This is cheaper than traditional methods.
The researchers then mounted the finger-print sized circuit onto a blend of wet tissue paper and carbon nanotubes, which works to detect changes in pressure. They then covered the layered sensor device with a strip of tape, to make it waterproof.
The device can track both the magnitude and location of pressure applied to it. Using machine learning technology to process the signals, the researchers found the sensors could feel and report applied pressures in the lab with up to 94% accuracy. And by connecting the sensor to a wi-fi network, the researchers could press it underwater to control phone functions, including double touch, triple touch, short touch, and long touch patterns.
"We expect the readily-available materials, easy fabrication techniques, and machine learning algorithms we have demonstrated in this journal article will bring significant contributions to the development of hand-drawn sensors in the future," says Kim.
Suggested Items
Flexible Printed Circuit Board Market to Reach US$40.447 Billion by 2030
07/10/2025 | Globe NewswireThe flexible printed circuit board market will grow at a CAGR of 8.28% to be valued at US$40.447 billion in 2030 from US$27.17 billion in 2025.
Taiwan PCB Industry Adopts Cautious CapEx Strategy, Eyes AI and Southeast Asia for Growth
07/10/2025 | TPCADriven by the stabilization of the global electronics market and the strong demand for AI applications, although the Taiwan printed circuit (PCB) industry is facing a trend of capital expenditure convergence for three consecutive years, its output value and operating performance continue to rise, indicating that the industry is shifting from high investment to high added value development, and the industrial structure is undergoing a steady transformation.
IBIDEN Earns Recognition in FTSE Russell ESG Indexes, Reinforcing Commitment to Sustainable Growth
07/07/2025 | IBIDENIBIDEN Co, Ltd. is pleased to announce that it has been selected for FTSE4Good Index Series for the tenth consecutive year, FTSE Blossom Japan Index for the nineth consecutive year, and FTSE Blossom Japan Sector Relative Index for the fourth consecutive year.
Symposium Review: Qnity, DuPont, and Insulectro Forge Ahead with Advanced Materials
07/02/2025 | Barb Hockaday, I-Connect007In a dynamic and informative Innovation Symposium hosted live and on Zoom on June 25, 2025, representatives from Qnity (formerly DuPont Electronics), DuPont, and Insulectro discussed the evolving landscape of flexible circuit materials. From strategic corporate changes to cutting-edge polymer films, the session offered deep insight into design challenges, reliability, and next-gen solutions shaping the electronics industry.
Flexible Electronics Market to Reach $66.9 Billion by 2032, Growing at a CAGR of 9.2% from 2025
06/30/2025 | PRNewswireThe flexible electronics market is projected to reach $66.9 billion by 2032, up from an estimated $38.4 billion in 2025, growing at a robust CAGR of 9.2% during the forecast period.