Wearable technology has become highly popular through their manifestation in devices like watches, rings and eyewear. Now researchers at MIT have pioneered a revolutionary smart fabric whose thread-based computer, has seamlessly integrate this sophisticated technology into everyday clothing.
Beyond the Wrist: Capturing the Body’s Data Symphony
The effectiveness of traditional wearables remains high yet their data collection remains restricted because they do not fully exploit the full spectrum of bodily signals that constantly flow from our bodies.
In response, MIT engineers have developed a fabric computer which can be integrated into normal clothing for use as a monitoring system. The device contains sensors, processors, memory, batteries and both optical and Bluetooth communications which enables whole-body monitoring through network of these fibers.
The main obstacle during development stemmed from the mismatch between 2D chip arrangements and the 3D structure of fibers as such they experienced connection breakdowns.
To solve this issue the MIT team created a flexible circuit board which allowed the electronic components to be arranged in two dimensions before they can be folded into small packaging. These components are then connected through copper microwires, arranged in a spiral, and encased in a flexible plastic coating. Scientists achieved textile integration by weaving these fibers in wool, polyester and nylon materials.
Smart Clothing in Action: Real-World Applications
The smart fabric threads have sufficient processing capability to execute fundamental neural networks that recognize several physical movements with precision. Scientists conducted a test using four embedded threads in a shirt and pants combination which resulted in a 95 percent accurate activity detection through collective analysis via Bluetooth.
The US Army and Navy are conducting a field test of this technology at present. They are using it to capture essential real-time health and activity information of servicemen operating in extreme cold environments.
The Future of Wearable Tech: Beyond Military Applications
However, its applications extend far beyond defense. As whole-body monitoring not only serves elite athletes to enhance their performance but even the healthcare professionals employ it for distant patient health management. It may not be long before everyday clothing is as powerful as early home computers 😉
Reference- MIT News, New Horizon, The Verge, BBC, Discovery