Soft ionic liquid multi-point touch sensor

The development of electronic skin (e-skin) and soft tactile sensing has recently attracted great interest. Here we report for the first time on a novel ionic liquid (IL) based soft pressure sensor with multi-point touch detection capability using 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([BMIM]+[BF4]−) as a highly conductive sensing medium. The sensing mechanism is attributed to the repopulation of charge cations and anions in aqueous solution under pressure. The sensor can detect two dimensional touching positions with a sensitivity of −0.28% kPa−1. Our sensor showed good stability and temperature independence thanks to the incompressibility of IL in the range of touch pressure and the appropriate signal measurement configuration. We successfully demonstrated the sensor's capability to detect multi-point human touch with different pressure levels. Our simple design with smart structures and ease of fabrication processes enable the development of a soft and low-cost sensor with multiple-point sensing capabilities on a single chip

In-situ deposition of pressure and temperature sensitive e-skin for robotic applications

The development of a multimodal sensing platform with multiple layers for electronic skin (e-skin) sensing of temperature and pressure has attracted considerable interest to practical applications in soft robotics, human-machine interfaces, and wearable health monitoring. In this work, we demonstrated a new platform technology with multiple sandwiched layers of highly oriented carbon nanotube membrane and polyacrylonitrile for the integration of pressure and temperature sensory functionalities into a single platform that is thin, ultra-lightweight, flexible, and wearable. The key technology of in situ deposition of sensor platform on objects or in robot interface makes this a unique method for the development of e-skins for robotic applications, offering a new approach to wearable electronics and portable health care

Knowledge and attitudes to prescription charges in New Zealand and England

Prescription charge regimes vary between countries but there is little research on how much people know about these or support values underlying them. To explore, in New Zealand (NZ) and England, the public's knowledge of, and attitudes to, charges and whether knowledge and attitudes varied by demographic characteristics or by values about entitlement to public goods. A questionnaire was developed and administered to people over 18 recruited in public places in NZ and England. 451 people in NZ and 300 people in England participated. Less than half in each country knew the current prescription charge. In each country 62% of people were unaware of arrangements to protect people from excessive annual charges. Support for free or lower cost medicines for children, people over 65, people on low incomes, people on benefits, and people with chronic health problems was higher in England than in NZ. Support varied by participants' demographic characteristics and, in the case of people on low incomes and people on benefits, by values about universal entitlements. Gaps in knowledge, particularly about mechanisms to protect people from high costs, are concerning and may lead to people paying excessive charges. There was consensus about the elderly, children and the chronically ill being "deserving" of lower prescription charges, but people who did not believe in universal access to public goods appeared to see people on low incomes or benefits as less "deserving". In general, public views resembled those underlying the prescription charge regime in their country. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Novel low-cost sensor for human bite force measurement

This paper presents the design and development of a low cost and reliable maximal voluntary bite force sensor which can be manufactured in-house by using an acrylic laser cutting machine. The sensor has been designed for ease of fabrication, assembly, calibration, and safe use. The sensor is capable of use within an hour of commencing production, allowing for rapid prototyping/modifications and practical implementation. The measured data shows a good linear relationship between the applied force and the electrical resistance of the sensor. The output signal has low drift, excellent repeatability, and a large measurable range of 0 to 700 N. A high signal-to-noise response to human bite forces was observed, indicating the high potential of the proposed sensor for human bite force measuremen