What’s up with Google and hi-tech tattoos? Earlier this year, Motorola showed off a new concept for wearable computing that involved the user getting an electronic tattoo. Now Google has filed a patent for a similar technology that may one day replace the now new smart watch.

Google’s new patent – “Coupling an electronic skin tattoo to a mobile communication device” – is just as it sounds. It’s an electronic temporary tattoo that a user applies to their neck, and connects to their smartphone to allow for hands free calling. Think of it like an extension of the behind the ear microphones that secret service agent use, but this technology is even more inconspicuous.

Speaking of which, Google itself says the technology would be best suited for security personnel at events or emergency situations. For example, plains clothes officers could communicate with each other at events without arousing any suspicion.

Interestingly enough, Google also says that its neck tattoo could be used as a more sophisticated lie detector. Here’s how they envision it working:

“Optionally the electronic skin tattoo 200 can further include a galvanic skin response detector to detect skin resistance of a user it is contemplated that a user may be nervous or engaging in speaking falsehoods may exhibit different galvanic skin response than a more confident, truth telling individual.”

As was said above, the tattoo is only temporary as it’s applied via a “sticky substance.” It probably won’t be long, however, before somebody directly applies a microphone to their throat through a tattoo or other method. The cyborg revolution is only just beginning after all, and Google may be one of the harbingers.

[Image: United States Patent and Trademark Office]
[h/t: Softpedia]