Nokia Files Patent For Vibrating Tattoos

Nokia has recently submitted a patent application with the US Patent and Trademark Office for the idea of a vibrating magnetic tattoo.

The main idea behind the patent being that a tattoo, stamp, or spray of ferromagnetic material on your body could be linked your cell phone. The material would then vibrate to alert the user to phone calls and text message, along with a wide range of other alerts by using different vibrations.

According to the filing for the patent:

“Examples of… applications may be low battery indication, received message, received call, calendar alert, change of profile, eg based on timing, change of time zone, or any other.”

It adds:

“The magnetic field may cause vibration of one short pulse, multiple short pulses, few long pulses… strong pulses, weak pulses and so on.”

The patent also suggests that by picking a particular shape the user could use the marking as an identity check or magnetic fingerprint.

Marek Pawlowski, editorial director at the mobile industry research firm PMN told the BBC:

“Our research suggests that once a user become accustomed to haptic feedback on a phone or tablet screen, other devices that don’t offer it can feel ‘dead’.”

Pawlowski continued on to say:

“Nokia’s patent suggests that their magnetic mark could be invisible – which might make this appealing to some. But in the immediate term I think users would draw the line at anything that is invasive like a tattoo or would be seen to have potential medical effects.”

What are your thoughts on a particular spot on your body vibrating every single time your cellphone rang, received a text or voicemail?