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Smart Fabrics and Wearable Electronics - The Future of Clothing

"Intelligent" or "smart" clothing is part ofit. Examples include: Clothing that changes
an exciting technology that involves buildingdensity depending on the temperature outside,
computing, connectivity, and sensingjackets that store solar energy that can be
abilities into materials people areused to charge cell phones and cameras, and
comfortable wearing. Some of the latesteven built-in sensors that can guide pinpoint
products in this area are very fashionable,massage to a wearer that is regulated
lightweight, and look no different than otherdepending  on  his  or  her  level of stress.
clothes. In some cases, the electronic
circuits that make up the brains of the- Active very smart: Where clothing has built
wearable computers and sensors are sewn in.in computing and or intelligent sensing
In others, the circuits and other componentscapacity. Examples include sleeves that
are literally built from conductive yarn andfunction as keyboards for a small handheld
thread that makes up the clothing. Thedevice, clothing that can function like a
possibilities  are  amazing  and  limitless.powerful calculator or PDA, and shirts that
can store information through a built-in
Right now, as devices get smaller andfabric keyboard and send it via Bluetooth to
smaller, we often find ourselves with aa  computer.
different electronic device in each pocket.
Each technological advance shrinks theseOther classifications of intelligent clothing
devices and integrates them with one another.include "phase change" and "shape memory"
It's only logical that as these portablematerials. Phase change materials literally
devices that connect us, give us information,change aspects such as their density in
and allow us to be mobile get smaller andreaction to the environment, in order to
more powerful, we can eventually find ways toincrease comfort or functionality to the
integrate right into the clothing we wear.wearer. These clothes might become denser
Right now, technology has not progressed towhen it is cold and more porous when it is
that point, but this article will coverhot, for example. Shape memory materials can
currently available forms of smart fabrics,change from a temporary deformed shape back
or  intelligent  clothing.to an original shape. They can preserve a
comfortable and loose fit regardless of
There are actually three distinct types ofchanges  in  heat  and  moisture  levels.
smart  clothing:
In the future, all of us might be wearing
- Passive Smart: Where the clothing "reads"intelligent clothing that senses when we are
or senses the environment or something abouthaving medical problems, gives us the ability
the person wearing the clothing. Wearableto charge electronic devices while on the go,
sensors fall into this category, withand even allows for basic computing. We
examples including built-in GPS,might not need different clothing for
clothing-integrated baby breathing monitors,different seasons due to phase change and
and clothing that gives feedback aboutshape memory technology. There might be
potential  changes  in  weather.means of communication and general
connectivity built in to our clothes. This
- Active Smart: Where clothing not onlyemerging technology is exciting and soon to
senses the environment, but also reacts totake over the consumer market.



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