What Are Smart Surfaces?

Defining smart surfaces

The definition of smart surfaces isn’t singular; there are many ways to define the term. However, we like how our friends over at Bare Conductive defined the term as, “Any material surfaces that can rearrange their composition or self-enhance their functionality in response to changes in the ambient environment.” There are also several different types of smart surfaces with their own unique sets of capabilities, which we will delve into a little deeper.  

Types of smart surfaces

Let’s be clear: Smart surfaces are not the same as smart materials. In fact, hey can have a completely different makeup and functionality. There are smart floors that can help generate heat and even monitor steps and convert those movements into real data. There’s smart glass that can be made into windows that dim on command with the use of an app. However, there are one main criterion that makes a surface “smart”; they must consist of active or passive technologies. For this specific article, we will be focusing on those that utilize active technologies. However, let’s define both anyways: 

  • Active technologies: Active technologies are those that the user is aware of and interacts directly with.  

  • Passive technologies: Passive technologies are those that the user cannot interact with directly, but they still contribute to the functions of something being utilized by the user.  

Examples of smart surfaces

So, now that we have defined what active and passive technology means, here are some examples of active smart surfaces. All of which, offer a different type of output and action.

  1. Automotive 

Most applications of smart surface technology in automotive are focused on the interior rather than the exterior. Whether it’s on a dashboard or in a seat. However, this can transcend to the exterior of a vehicle. One of our favorite examples of smart surfaces in automotive is the Mercedes Benz Vision AVTR. This concept vehicle is smart to the max; the action happens at the center console, where when a hand is placed on top, the vehicle can recognize the driver’s breathing and establish a biometric connection. The digital neurons produced as a result flow over the outside of the vehicle when in motion. Perhaps, this application extends beyond smart surfaces and is one giant human-machine interface.  

If we are talking about an example of smart surfaces in a vehicle that is more focused on the seat and not the surrounding components of the car; look to the BMW I Interaction Ease, which made its debut at CES 2020 earlier this year. The smart textile used for the seating allows the occupant to move into “zero gravity” position. This position makes the occupant feel as if they are floating, providing a level of weightless comfort never achieved before in automotive design.

2. Medical  

The applications of smart surfaces in medical environments are almost endless, and the acceleration of this area is crucial. Seeing as we are now living in a minimal contact world due to COVID-19, the need for smart surface technology that can monitor patients with little to no direct human contact is increasing. Hill-Rom, a leading provider of medical devices, has developed a smart bed called Centrella. An integrated sensor in the bed’s frame can detect heart and respiratory rates through the surface and send out alerts when those readings exceed a threshold. Caregivers are then notified via an indicator light and personal devices that are connected to the bed’s system. 

Smart surfaces can not only be used in the hospital, but in the classroom as well. The Anatomage Table is a 3D anatomy visualization and virtual dissection system for use by anatomy and physiology students. Med students can visualize the anatomy exactly as they would on a real human body, and the touchscreen interface allows for a flawless interaction and experience.

3. Home 

Yes, our homes can be intelligent too! Whether it’s a wall, a table, or an appliance, smart surfaces can help us complete everyday tasks with ease and assist us in living a more connected lifestyle. Smart surface technology is already gaining quite a bit of traction in the space, with many products currently available on the market. One such smart home product is the Sobro Smart Coffee Table. This coffee table boasts a touchscreen tabletop, among other exciting features, that enables the user to control TV and Bluetooth audio, and even regulate beverage temperature in the built-in refrigerator at the touch of a button (literally).  

Want to turn an entire bedroom wall into a smart surface? The answer may be conductive paint. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University teamed up with Disney Research back in 2018 to create Wall++, an interactive surface that utilizes conductive paint and electronic components to bring sensing capabilities to walls. The researchers found that they could use conductive paint to create electrodes across a wall, enabling it to act as a touch pad and electromagnetic sensor to track devices.  

The Bottom Line 

The widespread integration of smart surfaces is dependent on a few factors: A product design that allows for easy integration, a sophisticated Human Machine Interface (HMI), and an ability to produce at scale to make the product relatively affordable to consumers. Eventually, we will have to migrate from the notion that smart surfaces are a luxury enjoyed by a small portion of the population. The true potential and impact of smart surface technology will be felt when it can be used by the masses.

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