A student in the United States has developed a clear nail polish that conducts electricity, allowing users to operate touchscreen devices without removing long artificial nails or dealing with calloused fingertips. The product, called NailScreen, solves a persistent problem for people who wear decorative nails or have thick skin on their fingers.
The idea came from Alec Falkenham, a biomedical engineering student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He noticed how his friends struggled to use their phones while wearing long nails. Traditional touchscreens rely on electrical signals from human skin. When nails or calluses block those signals, the screen stops responding. Falkenham’s polish contains conductive particles that mimic skin conductivity, restoring touch sensitivity.
Falkenham spent two years refining the formula. His first prototypes used silver particles, but they turned nails gray. The current version uses carbon-based materials that remain invisible while maintaining conductivity. The polish dries clear and lasts about a week before needing reapplication.
Early tests show the polish works on most capacitive touchscreens, including those in iPhones and Android devices. Falkenham has filed a patent and plans to launch a crowdfunding campaign later this year. He estimates retail price will be around $20 per bottle.
The product targets a growing market of nail art enthusiasts and professionals who wear long nails daily. It also appeals to people with conditions like psoriasis or eczema that cause thickened skin on fingertips, which often interferes with touchscreen use.
Source: tu.no