The advancement in virtual reality/augmented reality (VR/AR) has been achieved by breakthroughs in the realistic perception of virtual elements. Although VR/AR technology is advancing fast, enhanced sensor functions, long‐term wearability, and seamless integration with other electronic components are still required for more natural interactions with the virtual world. Here, this report reviews the recent advances in multifunctional wearable sensors and integrated functional devices for VR/AR applications. Specified device designs, packaging strategies, and interactive physiological sensors are summarized based on their methodological approaches for sensory inputs and virtual feedback. In addition, limitations of the existing systems, key challenges, and future directions are discussed. It is envisioned that this progress report's outcomes will expand the insights on wearable functional sensors and device interfaces toward next‐generation VR/AR technologies.
Methods for microfabrication of solderable and stretchable sensing systems (S4s) and a scaled production of adhesive-integrated active S4s for health monitoring are presented. S4s' excellent solderability is achieved by the sputter-deposited nickel-vanadium and gold pad metal layers and copper interconnection. The donor substrate, which is modified with "PI islands" to become selectively adhesive for the S4s, allows the heterogeneous devices to be integrated with large-area adhesives for packaging. The feasibility for S4-based health monitoring is demonstrated by developing an S4 integrated with a strain gauge and an onboard optical indication circuit. Owing to S4s' compatibility with the standard printed circuit board assembly processes, a variety of commercially available surface mount chip components, such as the wafer level chip scale packages, chip resistors, and light-emitting diodes, can be reflow-soldered onto S4s without modifications, demonstrating the versatile and modular nature of S4s. Tegaderm-integrated S4 respiration sensors are tested for robustness for cyclic deformation, maximum stretchability, durability, and biocompatibility for multiday wear time. The results of the tests and demonstration of the respiration sensing indicate that the adhesive-integrated S4s can provide end users a way for unobtrusive health monitoring.
In article number
1900939
, Hee Cheol Cho, Woon‐Hong Yeo, and co‐workers demonstrate an all‐in‐one, wireless, stretchable hybrid electronic system with key capabilities for real‐time physiological monitoring of automatic detection of cardiac signal abnormality and motion activity via a Bluetooth‐enabled wireless communication and deep‐learning algorithm.
Wireless Soft Scalp Electronics
The cover shows a wearable scalp electronic system with virtual reality for motor imagerybased brain‐computer interfaces. The all‐in‐one, portable soft system includes an array of soft microneedles, stretchable interconnectors, and flexible circuits in a wearable platform. More details can be found in article number 2101129 by Woon‐Hong Yeo and co‐workers.
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