In the future we may be controlling our phones and other electronic devices from our fingernails.

Researchers from MIT have created a small wearable that can fit on our fingernails and act as a wireless track pad.

The current digital fingernail works by the user running their finger over the device, and the researchers believe it could be used as a remote control for when the wearer is using their hands but needs to quickly access the device it is connected to. There is also the potential to be used while a wearer is on the move.

The small device, called the NailO, contains touch sensors, a battery and three separate chips, including a Bluetooth radio chip.

It has been created to be worn on the thumbnail as it is a hard surface that does not have any nerve endings and can easily be touched by the fingers.

So far the researchers have been able to connect it to a mobile phone and use it draw a shape, which they did to demonstrate how items could be selected on a screen. It could also be used for swiping on a device.

The technology used to register touch is based around capacitive sensing, which is also used by the iPhone’s touch screen, and allows a thin layer between the finger and the sensors.

As the products develops and becomes closer to being able to be produced at a commercial scale, it could also have a detachable membrane that would let it be customised to the wearer’s clothes.

Hsin-Liu Kao, who was one of the lead researchers on the project, said that the NailO gives the user a high level of control but also is not as noticeable as other wearable technology.

“It’s very unobtrusive,” Kao said.

“When I put this on, it becomes part of my body. I have the power to take it off, so it still gives you control over it. But it allows this very close connection to your body.”

The MIT researchers behind the device have been in discussions with battery manufacturers to try and find a solution for longer battery life on such a small wearable.

To help save space on the device they are also looking at ways to combine the three chips in the device into.These are some of the challenges that they will have to overcome if they are to bring the product to market.

Despite the work that is still needed one researcher who has reviewed the NailO said that he believes there is a possibility for it to be successful in consumer market.

One researcher assessing the device said that it could be used to complement other devices and complete quick interactions when we are using are hands for other tasks.

“Is it the case that we’ll all be walking around with digital fingernails in five years’ time?” Said Steve Hodges, from Microsoft Research in Cambridge, England.

“Maybe it is. Most likely, we’ll have a little ecosystem of these input devices. Some will be audio based, which is completely hands free.

“But there are a lot of cases where that’s not going to be appropriate.

“NailO is interesting because it’s thinking about much more subtle interactions, where gestures or speech input are socially awkward.”