This hellish slab of artificial skin will let you pinch, tickle, and stroke your mobile

There’s a new type of experimental phone case doing the rounds that replaces the hard shells and silicone we know and love with an eerily lifelike artificial skin. It’s called Skin-On, and the technology (designed by Marc Teyssier at Telecom ParisTech) will apparently let us interact with our smart devices in a more sensory, human manner by facilitating gestures like tickling, pinching, and stroking. Indeed, Teyssier claims “human skin is the best interface for interaction,” and while that’s a touching sentiment, it’s hard not to wonder what people might think if they saw someone sauntering down the street caressing what appears to be a hearty chunk of human meat. Probably nothing good.

Chris Kerr Contributor, Stuff.tv

About

I’m a freelance games and technology journalist currently mashing my keyboard in the name of fine institutions like Stuff, where you'll usually find me waxing lyrical about the latest mobile morsels. I've also been known to cook up some decidedly delicious reviews from time to time, and was once dubbed 'the games industry's answer to Nigella Lawson' by someone probably somewhere.

Areas of expertise

Video games, computing, smartphones, home entertainment, lamps