Hybrid Body Lab

DEA 6040 FUTURE BODY CRAFT: FABRICATING ON-SKIN INTERFACES
Semesters Offered: Typically each Fall at Cornell
This course explores the intersectional field of Hybrid Body Craft, which applies design, engineering, and social science research for hybridizing emerging slim technology with body decoration practices. Examined through the lens of on-skin interfaces (i.e., smart tattoos and bandages) and electronic textiles in Human-Computer Interaction and Wearable Computing, students will develop prototyping skills in soft circuitry through tailored hands-on labs developed by the Hybrid Body Lab and critically reflect on representative papers in the field through readings and discussions. The skills students develop in the course will cumulate in the prototyping and design of a final project: a Future Body Craft of their choice.

DEA 1110/COGST 1111 MAKING A DIFFERENCE BY DESIGN
Semesters Offered: Typically each Fall at Cornell
This course provides a broad overview of design applied various disciplines, scales, and problem contexts, and how design can offer an alternative, and often more human-centered perspective towards solving the problems around us. With a focus on designing with a human-centered mindset in this age of technology, we will examine topics on the role of design in wearable computing, virtual and tangible interfaces, robotics to biology. We will also apply the lens of design to issues on sustainability, healthy environments, diversity and inclusion, and designing for social good. Each week, through case studies and familiar examples, DEA 1110 explores how designing is part of every discipline.

DEA 2200 ART+SCIENCE
Semesters Offered: Typically each Spring at Cornell
The relationship between art and science has been thoroughly discussed by philosophers. This course will review the discussion on this topic and investigate the role of art/science in a variety of professions and its role in creativity. Sustainability, multiculturalism and transdisciplinarity will be explored as manifestations of integrated minds and communities.

PRESS - WEB (SELECTED)
Web – Features, Profiles, and Topical coverage:

Tocco (08/28/2025) “Top 20 Designers in Wearables”

MIT Technology Review 125 anniversary issue (08/15/2024), “What the future holds for those born today”     

Cornell Chronicle (09/09/2021) “Weaving Inclusivity, Style into Wearable Technology.”

PCMag (07/27/2021) “You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Tiny Printed Circuit Board”

Cornell Chronicle (10/21/2020) “Silver linings: Innovation, kits, tech animate a hybrid semester” (feature on DEA 6040 Future Body Craft)

Ars Electronica (01/07/2020) “Like a Second Skin”

Web - Project coverage

Cornell Chronicle (05/05/2025): Plants you wear: LivingLoom weaves seeds into textiles

Hackster.io (05/10/2025): E-Textiles That Will Grow On You

Engineeringness (5/5/2025), Wearable Chia-Seed Hydrogel Textiles That Germinate, Livingloom by Cornell=

DAZED Magazine (3/28/2025): Tattoo machine nails and lasers: Is the future of nail art functional?

Cornell Chronicle (10/24/2024): On-body electronics can monitor health, support creative expression

Hackster.io (10/10/2023): Weaving Wellness info Your Life

New Atlas (4/26/2023): KnitDema glove puts the electronic squeeze on swollen fingers

Technical Textile (4/28/2023): US researchers build knitted robotic textile for hand oedema patients

HealthTech World (4/27/2023): Knitted wearable treats hand swelling

Cornell Chronicle (11/03/2022): SkinKit offers versatile, wearable on-skin computing

FreeThink (11/13/2022): “SkinKit” lets ordinary people build their own “smart tattoos”

Lifewire (11/15/2022): Skin Computers Could Be the Next Big Thing in Wearables

Cornell Chronicle (07/14/2020) “Kao weaves craft techniques with on-skin tech”

DesignBoom (07/15/2020) “with hybrid body lab's 'wovenskin,' you can feel alerts directly on your skin”

Communications of the ACM (07/17/2020)  “'Second Skin' Interfaces Tap Crafters' Expertise”

Interesting Engineering (07/16/2020) “On-Skin Wearable Technology Combined With Traditional Weaving” 

Forbes (08/16/2016): “The Surprisingly Simple Chemistry In DuoSkin, Temporary Tattoos That Control Your Phone.”
CNN (08/15/2016): “This tattoo that controls a smartphone may be a glimpse of the future”
Washington Post (03/17/2017): “These temporary tattoos turn you into a temporary cyborg”
TechCrunch (08/12/2016): “MIT’s DuoSkin turns temporary tattoos into on-skin interfaces”
DesignBoom (03/29/2017): “DuoSkin electrical temporary tattoos a success at new york fashion week”
International Business Times (03/20/2017): These Temporary Tattoos Turn You Into A Human Track Pad
Dezeen (12/13/2016): Dezeen's top 10 visions for the future according to 2016
WIRED UK (11/01/2016): From smog-eating towers to ocean-cleaning barriers, how design is inspiring innovation
Boston Herald (08/21/2016): “MIT develops high-tech temp tattoos”
Marie Claire UK (08/18/2016): “Your Flash Tattoo is now an iPad”
Washington Post (08/17/2016): “This temporary tattoo can control your smartphone”
Dezeen (08/17/2016): “DuoSkin temporary tattoos can remotely control devices”
Quartz (08/17/2016): “MIT shows off a smart tattoo that can turn your skin into a touchpad”
Allure (08/17/2016): “MIT Develops High-Tech Flash Tats”
Cosmopolitan UK (08/16/2016): “DuoSkin tattoos: the metallic tattoos that double up as a touch screen”
Nerdist (08/16/2016): “Temporay electronic tattoos are totally borg meets coachella”
InStyle (08/16/2016): “No Joke: Someone Created a Temporary Tattoo That's Also a Touch Screen”
The Telegraph (08/15/2016): “Researchers create 'smart tattoos' that can control your phone”
CNET (08/15/2016): “Metallic fake tattoos are interactive, look like fashion accessories”
GeekWire (08/15/2016): “Microsoft Research and MIT unveil DuoSkin, the latest in smart tattoos”
Popular Science (08/15/2016): “MIT Researchers Make Interactive Glowing Gold Leaf Jewelry”
Motherboard (08/14/2016): "This Pretty Temporary Tattoo Lets You Remotely Control Your Devices"
The Verge (08/13/2016): “MIT and Microsoft Research made a 'smart' tattoo that remotely controls your phone”
Slice of MIT (08/19/2016): Smart Body Art: Temporary Tattoos Get Technical
Mashable (08/12/2016): “Researchers create temporary tattoos you can use to control your devices”
Fast Company (08/12/2016): “MIT's Next Breakthrough Interface? Temporary Tattoos”
Engadget (08/12/2016): “MIT's and Microsoft's flash tattoos can control gadgets”
Refinery 29 (08/12/2016): “These Look Like Temporary Tattoos — But They're So Much More”

(cont’d) Web - Project coverage
MIT News Office (04/17/2015): "Thumbnail track pad: Unobtrusive wearable sensor could operate digital devices or augment other device interfaces." (Front page story on MIT's website)
TIME (04/17/2015): "Get Ready To Turn Your Thumb Into a Miniature Trackpad"
CNET (04/16/2015): "NailO turns your fingernail into a tiny trackpad"
WIRED (04/21/2015): "This Adorable Thumbnail Trackpad Could Actually Be Useful"
Fast Company (04/20/2015): "From MIT: This Shiny Nail Art Is Actually A Tiny Bluetooth Trackpad"
PSFK (04/28/2015): "Unobtrusive Thumbnail Trackpad Could Be Next Iteration of the Wearable"
Engadget (04/18/2015): "Tiny trackpad uses your thumbnail to navigate devices"
Business Insider (01/20/2016): This genius device out of MIT turns your thumbnail into a wireless trackpad
The Verge (04/20/2015): "Using this thumbnail trackpad is like playing the world’s smallest violin"
Smithsonian.com (04/20/2015): "This Tiny Trackpad Fits on a Fingernail"
Boston Herald (04/17/2015): "MIT pair develop true digital device"
Tech World (04/17/2015): "Forget the Apple Watch. MIT shows off thumbnail wireless trackpad"
Tech Times (04/18/2015): "Meet NailO: MIT's Wearable Device That Turns Fingernail Into Trackpad"
Digital Trends (04/17/2015): "This amazing gadget turns your thumbnail into a tiny trackpad to control your phone"
Tech Crunch (04/17/2015): "This Tiny Sensor Turns Your Thumbnail Into A Trackpad"
GIZMODO (04/17/2015): "This Little Device Turns Your Thumb Nail Into a Track Pad"
Gizmag (04/16/2015): “NailO puts a wireless trackpad on your thumbnail”
Science Daily (04/16/2015): Wearable device turns user's thumbnail into a miniature wireless track pad
Hypebeast (04/19/2015): NailO Is a Tiny Trackpad for Your Nail to Navigate Devices
Science 2.0 (04/18/2015): NailO: Your Thumb As A Miniature Wireless Track Pad
SlashGear (04/16/2015): MIT’s NailO puts a tiny trackpad on your fingernail
Wareable (04/17/2015): This miniature, wearable trackpad fits on your thumbnail
Gazette Review (04/16/2015): You will never believe how small this trackpad is
Fusion (04/17/2015): MIT researchers developed a trackpad that fits on your fingernail
MacWorld (04/20/2015): MIT NailO – put a trackpad on your thumb

Print Magazines and News
Spur Magazine (01/23/2025): “Pioneers Share their visions for 2025”

MIT Technology Review (Sept/Oct 2024): “The Future Starts Now: A look at what the coming decades hold for those born today”

TIME Magazine (09/05/2016): “Smart Tattoos Bring Technology to Body Art”
MIT Technology Review (July/August 2015): “Computing at your fingertips”
Product Design and Development Magazine (Nov. 2015): “Tiny Wearable Turns Thumbnail into Trackpad”
FASHION Magazine (Sept. 2015): (Micro) Chipped Nails
Boston Globe (04/18/2015): “MIT Media Lab Researchers Create Touchpad Nail Art”
IEEE Spectrum (04/21/2015): "MIT Turns Thumbnail into Trackpad"

TV, Radio, Podcasts
Ｗonderland Podcast with Steven Johnson (01/28/2017): “For the Fun of It (Or, the Play in Great Work): Creativity at the MIT Media Lab; Featuring Director Joi Ito and PhD Student Cindy Hsin-Liu Kao”
ARTE (11/06/2016): “Amplified Skin”
CNBC (08/17/2016): Control your device with this temporary tattoo
CBC Spark Radio (06/07/2015): "The future of wearable tech is on your fingertip"
Radio Taiwan International (05/04/2015): "Trackpad on your fingernails?"
CNN (05/01/2015): "Tiny trackpad fits on your fingernail"
BBC Radio 5 (04/20/15): “NailO: Fingernails as an Input Surface”

• 2025, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Women in Computing Seminar (WiCS) in the Computer Science and Engineering division, Ann-Arbor, Michigan, “Designing Hybrid Skins” (host: Ke Wu)

• 2025, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Center for Design and Material Cultural Lecture Series, Madison, Wisconsin, “Designing Hybrid Skins” (host: Mengni Zhang)

• 2025, ACM UbiComp 2025, Networking Network Women (N2) Research Panel, Espoo, Finland, Faculty Panelist

• 2025, Cornell Biomedical and Biological Sciences (BBS) 2025 Symposium, Ithaca, NY, Faculty Panelist 

• 2025, Digital Weaving Norway, TC2 30th Anniversary Conference, Invited Speaker, “Designing Woven Hybrid Skins”, Krokkleiva, Norway (host: Vibeke Vestby)

• 2024, University of Washington design.use.build (dub) Seminar, Seattle, WA, “Designing Hybrid Skins” (host: James Fogerty)

• 2024, Cornell Computer Systems Laboratory (CSL) Retreat 2024, Keynote, Ithaca, NY, “Designing Hybrid Skins” (host: Kirstin Petersen)

• 2024, Dutch Soft Robotics Conference, Keynote, Eindhoven, The Netherlands, “Designing Robotics Skins and Textiles” (host: Amy Winters)

• 2024, MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), Human Computer Interaction Seminar, Cambridge, MA, “Designing Hybrid Skins” (host: Crystal Lee)

• 2024, Wearables Collectives Symposium at UC Davis, Keynote, Davis, California, “Designing Hybrid Skins” (host: Gozde Goncu)

• 2024, Lymphatic Education and Research Network (LE&RN), LE&RN Online Sympoisum, NY, NY, “Designing Robotic Textiles for Hand Edema Rehabilitation“ (host: Phyllis Fried)

• 2024, Cornell Institute for Healthy Futures, Panelist, Ithaca, NY, “Future of Mental Health in the Community Context: Technology, Place and Program” (host: Mardelle Shepley)

• 2024, Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA), Seminar, Cambridge, MA, “Hybrid Skins: Overview of Hybrid Body Lab Research.” (host: Michelle Farrington)

• 2023, Dagstuhl Seminar, Germany, Designing the Human Machine Symbiosis Seminar, invited participant (host: Pattie Maes, Ellen Do, Florian Mueller)  

• 2023, Transmedia Research Institute, Keynote (Virtual), Fano, Italy, “Hybrid Skins: Conformable Interfaces for Living With”

• 2023, TTI/Vanguard, Data, AI and Robotics Conference, Cambridge, MA, “Designing Robotics Skins and Textiles”

• 2022, Milstein Lecture, Cornell Milstein Program in Technology & Humanities, “Crafting Tech on the Body”

• 2021, Oberlin College, Crafting Change Symposium, keynote, “Crafting the Hybrid Body”

• 2021, University of New Mexico, CS Colloquium, “Crafting the Hybrid Body” (host: Leah Buechley)

• 2021, MIT Media Lab, Tangible Interfaces Guest Lecture, “Designing the Hybrid Body” (host: Hiroshi Ishii)

• 2021, MIT Media Lab, Cognitive Augmentation Guest Lecture, “Designing the Hybrid Body” (host: Pattie Maes)

• 2021, Tsing Hua University, Future Lab Symposium, virtual keynote, “Designing the Hybrid Body”(host: Ying Hua)

• 2020, Rhode Island School of Design Textile Department Seminar, Designing the Hybrid Body” (host: Joy Ko)

• 2020, ACM International Symposium for Wearable Computers Design Panel, panelist on the design process for wearable tech research

• 2020, New York Textile Month, panelist on “Textiles of Tomorrow”

• 2019, Accenture Technology Labs, San Francisco, CA, “Designing the Hybrid Body” (host: Alex Kass & Andreea Danielescu)

• 2019, Women of Wearables, NY, NY, “Designing the Hybrid Body”

• 2019, National Chiao Tung University, Global Research & Industry Alliance (GLORIA), Hsinchu, Taiwan “Designing the Hybrid Body” (host: Ken Wu)

• 2018, Royal College of Art, Fashion Design Programme, London, UK, “Hybrid Body Craft” (host: Helene Steiner)

• 2018, National Taiwan University, Dept. of Computer Science, Taipei, Taiwan “Hybrid Body Craft” (host: Jane Hsu)

• 2018, Quanta Computer Incorporated, Taoyuan, Taiwan “Aesthetically and culturally designed wearables” (host: Ted

• 2018, HOSOO Textiles, Kyoto, Japan, “Hybrid Body Craft”

• 2018, LA TEXTILE, Los Angeles, CA, Keynote Speech: "Hybrid Body Craft"

• 2018, Snapchat Research, Los Angeles, CA, "Hybrid Body Craft"

• 2018, Samsung Design Innovation Center, San Francisco, CA, “Hybrid Body Craft” (host: Fredrico Casalegno)

• 2018, Cornell University Information Science Colloquium, Ithaca, NY, "Hybrid Body Craft" (host: Francois Guimbretiere)

• 2018, BostonCHI keynote, Boston, MA, "Hybrid Body Craft"

• 2017, The New Context Conference, San Francisco, CA, Becoming Cyborgs session | “Hybrid Body Craft”

• 2017, MIT Museum, Boston, MA, Living in the Future Series | “Kino: Robotic Jewelry”

• 2017, IEEE Consumer Electronics Boston Chapter, Boston, MA, "Hybrid Body Craft"

• 2017, Future of Innovation, Technology &Creativity (FITC) Conference, Toronto, Canada, “Hybrid Body Craft”