By Ever wanted to unlock your smartphone by pressing it up against your body? Me neither, but Motorola felt the need to introduce new “digital tattoos” that stick to your skin and can unlock your Moto X via a simple tap. The tattoo is a super thin adhesive that shimmers on your wrist and can last for up to five days showering, swimming and other “vigorous activities.”
The stickers are made by VivaLink, a company that specializes in miniaturizing RF technology and making it flexible enough to use in scenarios like these. They say it’s so thin and light that you won’t even notice you’re wearing it from day to day.
Their motive? They say they want people to start taking smartphone security seriously. Motorola found that it takes most people around 2.3 seconds to unlock their smartphone using traditional methods, and that they tend to do it around 40 times a day. That’s so inconvenient that most people don’t even bother setting up lock-screen security.
We’re not sure how accurate that statement is, but I can tell you I’m one of those people (though I guess it doesn’t hurt that I’m mostly at home anyway). So how can you get some of your own?
VivaLnk sells them in packs of 10 at their website. They cost $10 per pack, though, which just might be too expensive when considering they don’t last for more than a few days. But if you’re OK with that price and wouldn’t mind a new way to unlock your Moto X this is one interesting option. Head here to purchase a pack.
I bought a pack so let’s see how it works lol I’m actually kinda stoked to try it with my moto x :D
Sounds like a modern prize sticker to put in Cracker Jack boxes lol.
3-5 days? Packs of 10? You’ll be buying these monthly. Looks like yet ANOTHER subscription to add to one’s monthly bill. LoL!!
But jokes aside, these sound pretty nifty.
Good point. I’ll wait for the implant.
This is absolutely asinine
Whaaaaat? I want a microchip implant so it never needs reapplying. (just then a knock on the door and a Google rep says here you go)
Hope that implant would be easy to remove or switch over as often as people upgrade there phones these days :p
It would be a generic reprogrammable code that would work for all Android devices, so if you got a iPhone you would be out of luck.
not quit but i think there concentrating on something that needs to be addressed tho. finger print and iris scanner seem to be better solutions because u dont have to keep purchasing them.
no
about a new moto x instead!
They need a tramp stamp where you can scan it for a phone number.
This is the greatest idea i’ve ever read!
Does this have to be placed directly on the skin? It’s something I’d consider putting on my watch band.
Was wondering what is preventing people from sticking these to other things instead of the skin like say a backpack strap or wrist strap or something else.
Isn’t this the same company that released the belt clip to unlock the phone? I’m still not okay with chips directly on my body.
Some folks really need to rethink their efforts. This add is worth appearing in Robocop 2…
Do keep in mind, this is just a NFC sticker with clear adhesive, so yeah, you can stick it on other items. I have an NFC sticker in my car, on my laptop and notebooks to unlock my MotoX already. Works great.
I like the clip one that you clip to your pocket. Do they still sell them?