Exploring the potential of electro-active polymers

University of the Arts PhD Student Aurélie Mossé is exploring the potential of electro-active polymers. "Pursuing my journey through energy-harvesting and self-actuated textiles, I am currently exploring the potential of electro-active polymers in the design of responsive textiles, in collaboration with Dr Guggi Kofod from the University of Potsdam, Germany, Departement of Applied Condensed Matter Physics. Electro-active polymers are plastics changing shape when electricity pass through it. Here you can see some first experiments with basic geometries, where the polymer is stretching when electricity is applied." Continue reading on Textile Future Research.

Image from Textile Future Research

Knitted stretch sensing

Hannah Perner-Wilson of Pulsea has been exploring knitted stretch sensing. She's got a great photoset here that documents her experiments. I wonder how accurate the sensors ended up being. She is also exploring a circular knitting machine. I can't wait to see if and when she'll make some machine-made knitted stretch sensors.

See related post: Stretch Sensing Creates a New Aesthetic

Smart Fabrics 2009 Conference Review

This review by the folks at Innovation in Textiles of the 5th annual Smart Fabrics Conference that took place in Rome this year is definitely worth the read for anyone who is interested in wearables. In a nutshell, the newly forming eTextile business sector is rapidly developing legs outside of research, educational institutions, and DIY enthusiasts toward consumer products and mass markets. Read the full review ›

Vital Jacket monitors heart rate

"All sorts of huge machines are used by hospitals to monitor a patient’s vitals, but with the pace in which technology is miniaturizing, there are no real doubts about fabrics becoming the next genuine machines...

We’ve seen wearable technology on a maturing track, and the Vital Jacket is yet another case in point. Combining textiles with innovative medical diagnostic technology, BioDevices has unveiled this wearable vital-signs monitoring system." source

I love how this concept is both functional and aesthetically beautiful. They weren't shy about hiding the sensing materials and circuitry and use it as the main aesthetic element. As a runner who uses a hard-cased heart monitor, I would replace that with this product immediately. It provides freedom of movement and it's gorgeous.

For related postings, The Future of Things has a couple of interesting articles about bio-sensors integrated into clothing and the challenges inventors and designers are facing:

Joanna Berzowska writes a paper on electronic textiles

Wearable technology designer and researcher Joanna Berzowska wrote a paper that is a great introduction to smart textiles titled Electronic Textiles: Wearable Computers, Reactive Fashion, and Soft Computation (pdf).

Abstract  "Electronic textiles, also referred to as smart fabrics, are quite fashionable right now. Their close relationship with the field of computer wearables gives us many diverging research directions and possible definitions. On one end of the spectrum, there are pragmatic applications such as military research into interactive camouflage or textiles that can heal wounded soldiers. On the other end of the spectrum, work is being done by artists and designers in the area of reactive clothes: 'second skins' that can adapt to the environment and to the individual. Fashion, health, and telecommunication industries are also pursuing the vision of clothing that can express aspects of people’s personalities, needs, and desires or augment social dynamics through the use and display of aggregate social information."

Read the full pdf here. More papers by XLabs here.

Pattern-changing swimsuits

Textile designer Yun Ding has created Aqua Chameleon, a line of delicate-looking swimwear printed with smart pigments such as thermochromatic and photochromatic ink that change patterns based on certain conditions. The patterns gradually shift from a geometric print into a decorative pattern by reacting to temperature, sunlight, or water conditions. These "swim costumes" challenge our notion of how a garment should function aesthetically by adding dynamically changing patterns based on the changing environment around us and displaying it back for all to see.

For more color-changing projects, check out Angel Chang's color-changing fashion line, or Joshua Hupper's AlphaMicron project that I posted earlier.