The trend of making more smart products has already gained much momentum. Even regular items that we’re quite used to are getting intelligent. Some scientists go even further. For example, a group of researchers from Harvard University created a smart fabric that can be used for making clothes. Interestingly, the fabric isn’t equipped with any sensors – it is one big sensor itself.
The fabric consists of three layers: a layer of silicon between two layers of conductive fabric. Silicon isn’t that capable of conducting current compared to this fabric, so the whole combination composes a capacitive sensor. It can register movement by monitoring how electric field charge is maintained between the two electrodes and detecting any changes. When the fabric stretches, the silicon layer gets thinner and two other layers get closer to each other.
As of now, scientists already invented a glove based on this technology. The glove, being a sensor itself, was able to track fitness data and even followed hand movements recording all information including the angle that every finger would bend at. In the future, the fabric could be used for making sports clothes and clothes for observing patients. Basically, a piece of garment can replace all fitness tracking gadgets.
Source: Ubergizmo
