Animated Tattoos

Tattooing is perhaps one of the oldest and most widey accepted forms of body modification. The practice is considered totally safe these days thanks to modern technology. Tattooing is carried out using a sterile tatoo machine which has remained true to it's origina incarnations invented in the 1800's. The only changes have been in safety and sterilization. The actual process of tattooing has not really changed very much – until that is, the recent launch of animated tattoos!

That's right – you did not misread it – ANIMATED TATTOOS.

This new generation of body art is exactly what you imagine. A moving image implanted under the skin. The tattoos are officialy named Programmable Subcutaneous Visible Implant (PSVI) and is constructed of a modified lcd screen and magnetic power source. The technology which we see every day in digital watches TV screens has been modified to allow a single colour anmated image to be shown through the skin. While the implant is pretty permanent, it is possible to reprogram the image if the wearer requires a change of design. The tattoo needs to be recharged every twelve hours by way of a special charger with a regualr plug on one end and a magnetic connector on the other which links to the one under the skin. It is not necessary to actually plug something into the body.

The procedure is not actually legal as it has not been fully tested for medical safety. However, the inventors say they hae carried out the process over 60 times. They would not reveal the cost, but say it's in line with a high end flat screen television and that if you can find them – and you check out – they will happily perform the procedure.

So what do you think? Would you have an animated tattoo?

In similar news, I saw a video of a guy getting the supposed first animated tattoo last summer, but his was a QR code on his chest which when scanned revealed a cartoon on your cell phone. Sorry dude, but these PSVI implants make your animated art look weak!