Further Required Research of EES

Further Required Research of the Epidermal Electronics System

                Research is still required for this technology to reach its full potential.  This potential for the epidermal electronic system is still based in medical technology.  EES has the potential to assist in the treatment of different diseases and aliments.   A futuristic application for EES is the development of an electronic bandage (Koshy).  An electronic bandage could be used for the treatment of burn victims to quicken the healing process.  The epidermal electronic system may also provide a source for treating diseases of the larynx (Koshy).  The EES may also find future uses in sleep by helping patients with sleep apnea, and babies who need neonatal care (Hartmann).

                Additional non-medical devices which can be developed from epidermal electronic system are devices capable of being motorized by body movements, self-charging batteries, and more efficient wireless communicators.  We may also be able to create ultra-thin television displays and flexible solar panels (Koshy).

                Major flaws in the engineering of the epidermal electronic system is, since it adheres to the skin using the Van der Waals force, the continual shedding of skin cells allows the patch to only stay attached to the skin for only a few days (Yong).  The engineering of the patch will eventually lead to it being able to be worn months at a time.  Another drawback is the EES is expensive to produce.  Rogers, one of the scientists involved in the development of EES, hopes that one day EES will be able to be mass-produced (Yong).