iPhones Can Read Tattoo Ink For Medical Info 55
An anonymous reader writes "Researchers at Northeastern University have modified an iPhone to take readings from a special fluorescing nanoparticle tattoo ink, which can then measure sodium and glucose levels in the blood."
Re:Even without the iPhone, this is really cool (Score:2, Informative)
Because human eyes are not precision instruments.
A camera measurable change under certain very specified LED lights (possibly only detectable in the dark) is relatively easy (and would not be that striking) compared to a dye which absorbed something prevalent in visible light to a very high level emitting a dramatically different light wavelength as a result and changing form active to inactive in a fairly narrow range of concentrations.
Consider that the first could be read by something like a light sensor + LED under a black sticky plaster and either fed to a gadget either through blue-tooth or a small wire if it was near by (eg hidden under a watch which doubles as a recorder). in the future maybe artificial implanted pancreases will be the norm but this allows the nearly same level of protection without the major surgery.