The idea of attaching gadgets to our bodies isn’t unusual. Wearables like smartwatches are commonplace, and smart rings cater to tech enthusiasts. Even strapping a computer screen to your face with devices like the Apple Vision Pro is becoming a reality. But the concept of putting gadgets inside our bodies takes things to a different level.
Swallowable technology might sound like science fiction, but back in 2013, Motorola explored the possibility. At the AllThingsD D11 conference, the company’s advanced technology team unveiled a swallowable pill developed in collaboration with Proteus Digital Health. This pill, designed to utilize the acid in the stomach to generate a current, could emit a signal once ingested. Motorola envisioned it as an authenticator, capable of unlocking a phone by recognizing the signal from within the body.
Regina Dugan, Motorola’s advanced design chief at the time, explained at the conference that swallowing the pill would essentially turn a person into a living authentication device. “It means that my arms are like wires, my hands are like alligator clips — when I touch my phone, my computer, my door, my car, I’m authenticated in,” she said, adding that the technology aimed to reduce “the mechanical mismatch between humans and electronics.” Dugan also showcased a digital tattoo capable of storing and transmitting authentication keys, even demonstrating a prototype tattooed on her arm.
neither Motorola’s swallowable authenticator pill nor the digital tattoo made it to market. However, Proteus Digital Health continued to develop its pill technology. Notably, Proteus had received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market the pill around the time of the Motorola demonstration, according to reporting from the time. The partnership between the two companies eventually dissolved, but Proteus later collaborated with Japanese pharmaceutical company Otsuka to attempt the launch of a smart pill containing aripiprazole, an antipsychotic medication.
Otsuka’s plan differed from Motorola’s original vision. Instead of using the pill as a password, the intention was to allow doctors and healthcare professionals to verify patient medication adherence through the pill’s signal-emitting capabilities. The companies submitted an application for FDA approval in 2015, but it was initially rejected in 2016. The FDA reversed its decision in 2017, ultimately approving the pill, but Proteus faced financial difficulties and declared bankruptcy in 2020. Otsuka subsequently acquired Proteus’s assets, including the patents for the ingestible pill.
Otsuka and Proteus hold a portfolio of patents related to ingestible smart pills, presenting significant hurdles for any company hoping to revive Motorola’s original concept. Licensing the technology from Otsuka would be a necessary step, and even then, widespread consumer adoption seems unlikely.
Motorola faced an uphill battle in convincing consumers to swallow a digital pill to bypass passwords. However, the underlying desire for convenient, contactless authentication was valid. People wanted a seamless way to access their devices—they simply didn’t want to swallow anything to achieve it.
Today, smartphone users have biometric options like Apple’s Face ID and fingerprint sensors, offering convenient and secure alternatives. Fingerprint authentication also minimizes the risk of accidental unlocks, a potential issue with an ingested pill. Similarly, digital car keys allow drivers to unlock their vehicles using their smartphones, offering a comparable functionality with potentially fewer risks than traditional key fobs. Hotel chains like Marriott and Accor also enable guests to use their smartphones to access their rooms, eliminating the necessitate for physical key cards.
Using a smartphone as an authenticator provides the same convenience as a swallowed pill, without the, well, swallowing. The idea of ingestible authentication, although innovative for its time, has been superseded by more practical and readily accepted technologies.
What’s Next? While the concept of a swallowable authentication pill hasn’t gained traction, the broader field of ingestible sensors continues to evolve. Research is ongoing into using similar technology for medical diagnostics and monitoring, focusing on applications like tracking medication adherence and detecting internal health issues. Otsuka’s continued ownership of the patents suggests further development in this area is possible, though likely focused on healthcare applications rather than consumer authentication.
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