Pockets. We all have them. But besides storing stuff what else can we do with em? Can’t fry an egg on ‘em. Can’t charge our phones with ‘em. Actually, hold that thought. Thanks to a team of researchers at Japan’s National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) we may have the latter within our grasp. Too bad about the eggs though.
The creators say “”When a 2.4GHz high frequency signal is transmitted through the sheet, it becomes a wireless conductive object.” Basically, electromagnetic waves are captured in the sheet and then concentrated in different areas. In short, it’ll charge stuff.
The power it provides is still pretty weak, clocking at about 1W. Still, the tech is sound and it can only improve in the future. The next step for the team ..read more
Posted in: Clothing, Conductive Yarn
Textronics, a leader in textile sensor technology, is now offering a DIY kit for people interested in developing heart rate monitoring textiles. This marks the first time that Textronics is offering and official kit for purchase.
The Developers Kit offer 12 textile sensors, a variety of knit tubes, wrist cuffs and chest straps. Additionally they include conductive thread and 2 transmitters with the kit. These transmitters are compatible with most analog heart rate monitors like Polar.
The kit which sells for $100.00 is a very thorough kit to help anyone start anyone get started in the vital monitoring garment game. This can open the door to many fitness and sporting tech garments. It is always great when an industry leader can offer these kits to the general public. Making it easier for ..read more
Posted in: Components, Conductive Yarn, DIY - Corner, Do-It-Yourself Industry Leaders, Intelligent Clothes, Safety, Sports, Tech Clothing Industry, Textile Circuit, Textile Switch, Textronics, Vitals Monitoring, Wearable Tech
Now a days textile sensors generally monitor heartrate. BIOTEX, a European sponsored research project which is set up to develop biochemical-sensing techniques and their integration into textiles adds a new dimension to bio-textile-sensor technology: analyzing body fluids via textile sensors.Using a combination of hydrophilic (water-loving) and hydrophobic (water-repellent) yarns. Those two yarns can be woven to direct the sweat through fabric channels to a sensor area. It is a passive system that uses no power and so reducing the power demands of the BIOTEX system.Body fluids can provide valuable data about a persons well being. There are potentially many applications for such technology.
Posted in: BIOTEX, Concept Design, Conductive Yarn, Safety, Sports, Super Smart Fabrics, Vitals Monitoring, e-Textiles
Studio 5050 is back again with the Embrace-Me hoodie. This hoodie has a large conductive version of their logo printed on front. When two Embrace-Me hoodies combine in a hug, lighted version of the big dipper appears on the back and a heartbeat sound is emitted.The hoodies come in a luxurious, cashmere-like 100% bamboo basket weave and are super soft. In about 4 weeks and $480.00 to $600.00 bucks you can get your own pair of Embrace-Me hoodies to share.
Posted in: Conductive Yarn, Display, Intelligent Clothes, Jacket, Light Emmiting Fabric, Lighting, Shirt, Sportswear, Studio 5050, Techno Fashion, Top, e-Textiles
Frog Design introduces a highly interesting textile and clothing concept. The textile and clothing concept in question can harvest the power everyone is creating with his/her clothing!
The technology works by harnessing the static electricity generated from regular movement.
Currently this electrical energy is wasted. Frog Design’s vision is to collect this waste energy by weaving conductive filaments into fabric. Everyday clothing can so be transformed into power (generating) clothes that can provide power to portable gizmos in your pocket.
The potential of such fabric is huge. The only thing which still has to be figured out is how to weave the power fabric and how to get the power from the jacket or t-shirt to your iPod or iPhone.
Frog Design goes even further in their vision and proposes an even more revolutionary ..read more
Posted in: Conductive Yarn, Frog Design, e-Textiles, iPod Fashion
Today a tip for all the Designer, Engineers and Creator of Wearable Electronic products among our readers.
Novonic, a company based in Germany, offers conductive yearns that can be used for data transfer, power transfer as well as for textile based heating elements.
The flexible core ensures sufficient mechanical stability combined with high flexibility.
The spiral-shaped twist of the wire ensures the stretch resitance of the electrical conductor.
The outer textile twist protects the yarn against overstretching and abrasion.
These conductive yarns can be further processed with the usual textile-technical methods.
As indicated on their Website, Novonic offers a i-wear solution, a textile interface between electronics and textiles with complete integration of sensors and communication in textiles, washable conductive textile connections for the transmission of energy and data support up to the supply of complete systems ..read more
Posted in: Conductive Yarn, Novonic
