These Patches Turn Cell Phones into Life-Saving Devices

That's not all these types of patches can measure. ICFO developed another wearable called the fitness band.

This one can measure "heart rate, hydration, oxygen saturation, breathing rate and temperature." This will allow users to adapt both their exercise routines and water intake according to the feedback, keeping them in optimum physical fitness.

The novel device can even be used for other particular circumstances such as for instance high altitudes where oxygen is scarce. In those circumstances, the fitness band can keep oxygen levels in check. 

Indeed, it seems this patch can be useful pretty much anywhere.

Spectroscopy devices for everyday use

The cooperation of the two institutes has also led to the creation of "the world's smallest single pixel spectrometer and a graphene-enabled hyperspectral image sensor." Thanks to their graphene foundation, both these devices come with broadband capabilities without the use of conventional expensive and bulky photodetection systems.

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These new spectroscopy devices open the door for regular people to use technology that once was only available in laboratories. "Built into a smart phone camera, the graphene-based camera sensor allows phones to see more than what's visible to the human eye," said Frank Koppens, group leader at Graphene Flagship partner ICFO, and Chair of the Graphene Flagship MWC Committee.

"Made up of hundreds of thousands of photodetectors, this incredibly small sensor is highly sensitive to UV and infrared light."

The researchers argue that these new spectrometers could soon become a necessity in everyday life. The devices could be used to identify everything from counterfeit drugs to harmful substances within a product. They could even provide night vision.

"This technology would allow users in the supermarket to hold the camera to fruit and infer which is the freshest piece. Or, in a more extreme example, the camera could be used for driving in dangerously dense fog by providing augmented outlines of surrounding vehicles on the windscreen."

Now, the question remains: where can we get some of these products?