The smart fabric developed is durable, malleable, and can be woven with cotton or wool.
Credit: Université Laval/Stepan Gorgusta
We’ve hear about smartphones and “smart cars,” and even such recent developments as the smart highway – but what about a smart textile?
Researchers from Université Laval’s Faculty of Science and Engineering and Centre for Optics, Photonics and Lasers are well on their way to developing clothes that can monitor and transmit biomedical information on wearers.
By using sensor technology and wireless networks, this smart textile will be able to track and transmit this medical information – which has the potential to be extremely beneficial for people suffering from chronic disease, firemen and police offers, and people who are elderly.
This from Université Laval:
A team under the supervision of Professor Younès Messaddeq created the smart fabric by successfully superimposing multiple layers of copper, polymers, glass, and silver.
The surface of the fiber can also be adjusted to monitor a range of information such as glucose levels, heart rhythm, brain activity, movements, and spatial coordinates.
Although the innovation will still need fine-tuning before commercialization, a patent has already been filed.
The researchers also note potential issues such as the need to solve the issue of power supply, but say the results thus far are promising.
If you’re interested in sensor innovation, head over to the Digital Library to check out the latest research in sensor technology. And sign up for our free e-Alerts while you’re there!
