Wearable phone-compatible gas sensors emerge

Researchers from MIT came up with a toxic gas sensor small enough to be worn by a person and capable of connecting to mobile phones or other intelligent devices.

MIT’s new smart gas sensors will be designed as badges that can be attached on clothes, and are said to be lighter than paper. These adopt carbon nanotubes wrapped by polymers that react to gas and send signals to an NFC-enabled device. The data sent are kept even when the detected harmful gas disappears.

The makers have found the sensors very suitable for military use, replacing handheld detectors that are still bulky when carried, and in chemical plants. It is not hard to see the technology also being used in gas sensors for the smart home and other security purposes. This can start the trend of smaller inconspicuous detectors that no longer needs installation. The product can gain an edge in the market also because it does not rely on an internet connection unlike other sensors based on Wi-Fi and other networks.