The material was developed by a French consortium and, in addition to measuring various biological parameters, also records where the wearer is or how far he or she has run. The first garments are expected by the end of the year.
A French consortium has unveiled a “smart” fabric with embedded biosensors at the Digital Health conference held alongside the CES technology show in Las Vegas. Led by the company Cityzen Sciences, the consortium calls the fabric “Smart Sensing” and claims it records all the parameters one would want to know when exercising – such as body temperature or pulse, distance traveled, and even geographic location.
The fabric could be used to make gloves, T-shirts or pants that would show the wearer when they are tired and need to take a break from their workout. However, the clothes would also be useful for people who don't exercise. This is because, according to the creators of "Smart Sensing", by analyzing the pulse, the material can recognize the early "signs" given by the heart, long before a heart attack.
At the conference, the consortium presented a prototype T-shirt sewn by “Smart Sensing,” which also won the first innovation award. During its demonstration, data from sensors on the T-shirt was transferred to a small device, which was hidden behind the garment’s label.
In addition to the battery, the device also contained a transmitter that transmitted the measurements wirelessly and in real time to the user's smartphone. There, an application processed them, displaying the information resulting from the analysis on the mobile screen.
Cityzen Sciences representatives said that the first clothes made from the "smart" fabric will be on the market by the end of 2014. "Smart Sensing" will cost a maximum of 30% more than conventional fabrics, while being durable enough not to be damaged by washing in the washing machine or ironing.
Source: portal.kathimerini.gr
