Engineers at Purdue University have developed a method to transform different garments into smart wash-resistant fabrics. These little garments are wirelessly powered through a flexible silk-based coil sewn into the fabric.
These smart clothes will outperform today’s garments, thanks to their miniature electrical circuits and sensors, which will allow anyone wearing these clothes to communicate without any problem with their phone, computer, car and other machines.
In addition to helping you be more productive, it also helps you monitor your health or even make a call in the event of an accident. The reason why these clothes are not yet in the wardrobes of all the houses in the world is because their manufacture is a challenge, since the clothes have to be washed periodically and electronic devices cannot come into contact with water.
Smart clothing features
Ramsés Martínez, assistant professor at the Purdue School of Industrial Engineering and the School of Biomedical Engineering at Weldon, had this to say: “With small garments with a spray coating with high hydrophobic molecules, we can make these garments water repellent, mud and oil ”. In addition, he adds: “It is almost impossible for these small garments to stain and they can be used under water and washed in washing machines without damaging the electronic components on their surface.”
Thanks to its ultra-thin lining , these smart clothes are as flexible, stretchy and breathable as conventional cotton t-shirts. In addition, these clothes do not need batteries to charge, since with only using Wi-Fi or radio waves from the environment, the garments are able to power the textile circuit.
For example, one of the garments that has been created has been a glove whose fingertips light up every time they are near a cable and there is the possibility of an electric shock. Another alternative is a miniature cardiac monitoring system that is sewn on and capable of monitoring the health status of the user.
A help in our daily life
These portable devices powered by Wi-Fi signals will make us see clothing not only as a garment to wear and keep us warm, but also as portable tools designed to help us in our daily lives, control our health and protect us from accidents. . However, the entry of new technology in this area can cause new vulnerabilities to emerge in Wi-Fi.
These smart garments will also be able to transmit information to users’ mobile phones about their postures and movements, allowing machines to understand human intention without the need for other interfaces, expanding the way we communicate, interact with devices and play video games. This technological innovation causes everything and everyone to be increasingly connected thanks to the Internet. This technology can be manufactured in large conventional sewing factories, which could help accelerate the development and commercialization of these future smart garments.
