Wearable five-finger keyboardless input system based on silk fibroin electronic skin

To get rid of the limitations of traditional keyboards, we report a new generation wearable keyboardless input system (WKIS). Based on the coupling of triboelectrification and electrostatic induction, the single-electrode mode triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) worn on the five fingers can convert finger tapping into electrical signals. Meanwhile, by developing a number pair coding table in vowel mode, we integrated the 26 English letters and necessary instructions into WKIS with five-finger tapping. The main body of the device is an ultra-thin silk fibroin film (SF), which is biocompatible, water-permeable, breathable and skin conformal, enabling it suitable for long-term wear as a ring on the finger. Data coding and transmission process are completed through a printed circuit board (PCB) and Wi-Fi module to realize keyboard communication. Feature engineering and machine learning are employed to identify WKIS registered users with an accuracy of 92%. In addition, the WKIS provides an effective solution in smart home control, which has potential applications in future human-computer interaction, Internet of Things and VR scenarios.

Automated summary

We report a new generation wearable keyboardless input system that utilizes triboelectrification and electrostatic induction to convert finger tapping into electrical signals. The device, worn on the fingers, integrates English letters and instructions through a number pair coding table. With an ultra-thin silk fibroin film as the main body, the device is suitable for long-term wear and communicates through a printed circuit board and Wi-Fi module. It achieves a 92% accuracy in identifying registered users through feature engineering and machine learning. Additionally, it provides an effective solution in smart home control and has potential applications in human-computer interaction, Internet of Things, and VR scenarios.