EMERGING TECH: New Developments Are Encouraging for the Future of Wearables: Devices, Clothing, and More
A New Approach to Smart Fabric
“As you think about the characteristics of your wardrobe, integrated technology will increasingly become a deciding factor as to what you buy and wear, expanding the capabilities of apparel to meet needs perhaps you didn’t even know you had!.”
GUEST ARTICLE WRITTEN BY CARY SHERBURNE OF WHATTHEYTHINK
We’ve been following the progress of wearables since beginning our formal coverage of textiles and apparel in 2018, and it is amazing the progress that is being made. This article highlights two examples that demonstrate that progress.
In the beginning, when we thought about wearables, it was usually things like Fitbit, Oura, smart watches, etc. But in textiles and apparel, one of the biggest barriers to acceptance was the need to include a hefty battery to supply power to the creation.
That’s changing rapidly, as battery technology improves and other developments that make it easier to power clothing for more functionality without the drag of a large power bank.
Graphene Breakthroughs
Let’s start with graphene. If you search WhatTheyThink for articles or mentions of graphene, you will find a ton of information. Here’s an example from a couple years ago. In this article, we mention Graphene-X, “based in Hong Kong and a provider of graphene-enhanced “urban technical and adventure ready clothing.” The company states, “We combine elements of outdoors wear, workwear and streetwear. We emphasize functionality, versatility, and comfort without compromising style. This is clothing for those who live the urban life on the go and need clothing that can keep up with their active lifestyle.” The article is a bit of a cautionary tale, since not everything that purports to contain graphene actually does.
The initial jacket they brought to market was fabricated of yarn with graphene bonded into the yarn, giving it the thermal, strength, and other properties associated with graphene. And it doesn’t ever wash out!
The latest version, which just started shipping late last year or early this year, is the ThermAdapt GX-Merino Heated Jacket. For those of you suffering through this winter in the North, it sounds like a great idea, right? You simply put a charging block (and they get smaller every day it seems) in an upper pocket and connect it to the built-in USB-C cable to power it. There’s also an app, of course, that lets you control the exact temperature for the heated areas of the jacket: front pockets, back panel. The company states, “Think of it as climate control for your body.” Get more information here. I get cold on airplanes and would love to be able to wear this jacket on board!!
A New Approach to Smart Fabric
Thanks to @Richard Romano who brought this article to my attention. Now not only can you embed graphene into fibers to add strength, durability, thermal capabilities, and more, you can actually weave fully functional computing circuits directly into fiber strands as thin as human hair.
“Led by Peng Huisheng of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Fudan team has spent more than a decade rethinking how microelectronics might evolve once freed from rigid, planar silicon. Instead of mounting electronic modules onto fabric, the researchers turned the fabric itself into a computing substrate.” No more need to put rigid chips into soft materials.
The article notes, “Despite its size, each strand can handle meaningful computing tasks. A one-millimeter-long segment integrates tens of thousands of transistors, giving it data-processing capabilities similar to those of chips used in medical implants.” Each fiber (which is as thin as a human hair) contains four integrated subsystems: power supply, sensing, computing, and output. So no bulky battery needed. Presumably, this technology essentially allows a piece of clothing to act as a standalone computer, processing data and displaying information directly on the fabric without needing to be “plugged into” or “stamped with” external electronic modules.
Of course, with any new and innovative technology, scalability is the issue. The researchers explicitly state that their fabrication method is compatible with existing semiconductor equipment and they believe they have achieved a way to mass produce these fiber chips. But, of course, it needs to get from the lab to commercialization, and that requires investment.
And by the way, both the thermal jacket and fabric made with the Fudan development can be washed without damaging anything. Of course, on the jacket, you do need to remove the power bank.
As you think about the characteristics of your wardrobe, integrated technology will increasingly become a deciding factor as to what you buy and wear, expanding the capabilities of apparel to meet needs perhaps you didn’t even know you had!
About Cary Sherburne: Cary Sherburne is a well-known author, journalist and marketing consultant whose practice is focused on marketing communications strategies for the printing and publishing industries.
Cary Sherburne is available for speaking engagements and consulting projects. To get more information contact us. Please offer your feedback to Cary. She can be reached at cary@whattheythink.com.
