Smart clothing is generally fairly niche, in part because it’s often not overly useful, but pack the right tech into a garment and that could change, and some newly developed sensors could help with that.
Phys.org reports that the sensor, developed by Yoshiro Tajitsu of Kansai University in Japan and Teijin Limited, are piezoelectric (that is, able to convert mechanical signals into electrical signals) braided cords that could be used in fashion, sports apparel, interior design and healthcare.
The sensors can respond to most movements, such as bending or twisting, and they could be used for a number of things, such as triggering a smartphone to take a selfie or, if worn as part of a necklace, monitoring your pulse rate.
Fashionable as well as functional
The braided cord design won’t be suitable for all clothing types, but it sounds fairly versatile, having been implemented into Japanese kimonos and shoelaces, and the people behind it say they’re also working with fashion designers in France and Italy to incorporate the cords into more clothes.
No timescale has been given for when we might start to see commercially available products with these cords, but if they can be integrated seamlessly into clothing – and offer enough useful functionality – they could be an appealing alternative to a basic health or fitness tracker.