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In a breakthrough merging fashion with technology, everyday clothing may soon revolutionize how we track and record body movements. Recent research from the Universities of Bristol and Bath introduces a novel method using conductive threads stitched into garment seams to create electrical circuits. These threads, innocuously woven into the fabric, change resistance in response to the wearer’s movements.
Presented at the Designing Interactive Systems (DIS) conference in Copenhagen on July 3, the study paves the way for digital clothing that can sense and capture movements with unprecedented accuracy, surpassing the capabilities of current smartphones and smartwatches.
Professor Mike Fraser from the University of Bristol’s School of Computer Science expressed enthusiasm about the implications of their work: “We’re excited about the prospect of integrating our designs into everyday garments, such as sleeves. By utilizing common overlocked seams found in standard garment construction, we’ve demonstrated robust movement sensing capabilities without the need for a separate power source.”
The innovation leverages a wireless energy transfer method, where a charging coil embedded in the seam draws power from a smartphone placed in the wearer’s pocket. This approach not only avoids altering existing manufacturing processes but also enhances the garment’s utility by enabling advanced motion sensing capabilities.
Moreover, the research highlights the potential applications in fields like exercise, physiotherapy, and rehabilitation. Advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques can analyze the movement data captured by these garments, accurately correlating body motions with specific postures or gestures used in therapeutic exercises.
The paper titled “SeamSleeve: Robust Arm Movement Sensing through Powered Stitching,” authored by Olivia Ruston, Adwait Sharma, and Mike Fraser, appears in the Proceedings of the Conference on Designing Interactive Systems 2024 held in Copenhagen, Denmark. This study not only underscores the future of wearable technology but also sets a precedent for e-textile designers and clothing manufacturers to innovate in ways that blend functionality seamlessly into everyday wear.
For more information, researchers and industry experts alike anticipate further developments in the integration of smart technologies into textiles, promising a future where our clothes may actively contribute to our health and well-being.
