If a blind person has a more acute sense of touching, then why not cater to their attribute by giving them a tattoo they can feel? And I mean feel.

Klara Jirkova, a student at the University of Arts in Berlin, has created the “Braille Tattoo,” a series of surgically implanted “bumps” made of either steel, titanium or plastic placed under the skin.

Once the material is implanted under the skin reading the Braille tattoo is as easy as running your fingers over the surface.

Jirkova hopes that this new form of tattoo will be used as a casual source of identification - a handshake followed by a hand-scan.

Although it sounds a bit Orwellian for my tastes - microchips implanted in the brain; total Totalitarian control! - I can agree that social embossing for the visually impaired is an interesting venture.

My only worry would be removal of the bumps if needed - is it safe?