A London-based robotics engineer has developed revolutionary smart nail extensions that incorporate cutting-edge technology, potentially transforming how we interact with digital payments and online content.
From childhood fascination to engineering innovation
Eneni Bambara-Abban, a 32-year-old creative technologist living in London, first discovered her passion for engineering at just five years old after encountering a walking doll at a flea market. The remarkable Black doll, rare for the 1990s, captivated the young Eneni and sparked a lifelong curiosity about how things work.
"I was just amazed. I can still remember it so vividly, like it was yesterday," Eneni recalled. "I just was like 'What kind of sorcery is this? How can I be a wizard?'"
This early fascination led her to dismantle household gadgets and join every science club available during her school years. She excelled academically, achieving all As in her GCSEs, though faced challenges during her A-levels where she received her first B and C grades.
Overcoming obstacles in engineering education
Despite her passion and achievements, Eneni faced rejection from her first-choice university, the University of the West of England in Bristol, where she hoped to study robotic engineering in 2012. Undeterred, she wrote a heartfelt letter to the dean explaining her long-standing ambition to become a robotics engineer.
Her determination paid off when she was offered a place on the foundation engineering course, which she began in 2012 before progressing to the robotics degree the following year. However, she found the experience isolating as the only Black woman on her course, nearly causing her to quit until she found inspiration at an engineering awards ceremony.
Bridging fashion and technology
Eneni's innovative thinking led her to combine her love for Japanese nail art with practical technology solutions. "Having undiagnosed ADHD back then, I was always forgetting things," she explained. "So I constantly thought to myself 'What if I had a way to put a chip inside me for my credit card, my room key, or my uni pass, that I would never lose?'"
This sparked the concept of semi-permanent nail extensions with embedded circuits. After consulting with electronics experts, she realised that near-field communication (NFC) technology could theoretically enable her vision.
The initial prototypes were developed using breadboards before being sent to an electronics factory in China for miniaturisation. The factory printed fine circuits onto thin flexible surfaces that could curve to the natural shape of nails, costing just 30p per piece compared to thousands if manufactured independently.
Practical applications and ethical considerations
The completed press-on nail extensions featured various designs popular with young women and could be programmed to link to webpages or social media profiles like Instagram. Eneni even tested the technology with a dummy bank account, demonstrating its potential for contactless payments similar to smart rings and watches.
However, she recognised significant practical limitations. "Even if I can do something as an engineer, it doesn't mean I should," Eneni stated, referencing Spider-Man's famous quote about responsibility. She emphasised that strict financial regulations and ethical concerns prevent her from connecting the technology to real bank accounts until proper safety protocols are established.
Inspiring future generations
Since graduating in 2018, Eneni has dedicated herself to inspiring others in STEM fields. She shares her projects on Instagram under the handle @thetechover, which has attracted over 6,000 followers, and founded The Techover Foundation to support students from under-served backgrounds.
"I just feel like one of the major things deterring women from getting in and staying in engineering is imposter syndrome," she noted. "I want to show that engineering is for everyone, regardless of gender."
Eneni has visited schools worldwide, from the UK to the Philippines and Nigeria, demonstrating engineering's creative potential. Her current projects include expanding her wearable technology concepts to smart clothing that can interact with weather forecasts and provide information about garment materials and ethical production.
Her advice to aspiring engineers is straightforward: "Never stop asking questions, find your community... Don't be afraid to fail. You can do anything and be anyone you want to be without following conventional routes, so long as you work hard and are passionate about it."
