WHY THIS MATTERS IN BRIEF
As compute and storage gets smaller people will find all kinds of new use cases for them …
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Dubai is truly the land of man-made wonders. The country is dripping in novelty and captivating the world with its contributions from all walks of life, from its flying taxis and 3D printed buildings, to its skyscrapers and robocops. And now, to add to their tally, a local nail bar has introduced a new novelty – a high-tech smart nail microchip manicure.
While the world was obsessing over a bizarre coronavirus-inspired nail art trend, Lanour Beauty Lounge in Dubai World Trade Centre is wowing clients with their Smart Nail manicure. Trust Dubai to give you the feel of living in 2050 when the rest of the world is busy grunting on the adversity that was the year 2020.
The latest nail fashion trend?
The futuristic manicure involves placing a teensy microchip on top of your fingernail, which is then covered and secured with a layer of glitter nail polish. How does this work or benefit its user? According to the Lanour Beauty Lounge, the chip uses Near-Field Communication (NFC), a short-range wireless technology that makes smartphones, tablets, wearables, payment cards, and other devices even smarter. Meaning, a simple tap of your chip-bearing, the manicured-to-perfection finger will transfer personal data such as your WhatsApp details, a digital business card, or your Instagram handle within seconds.
The chip is also completely safe as it is a passive device which means it cannot be tracked and can only be read in close proximity of 1-2cm, so there is no fear of data being hacked or stolen, alledgedly.
Of course, the capacity to store data in the chip is quite small for now. Still, CEO Nour Nakarem is hopeful that with technological advancements, this idea can be developed to the point where people can tap to pay for bills, share menus, and circulate information. The Smart Nail starts at only AED 250 (roughly $70) for the first application, which lasts up to three weeks.