New technology creates clothes that can sense and record body movements

To create clothing that can capture and record body movements, scientists from the Universities of Bristol and Bath have teamed up to develop a new technology called ‘SeamSleeve’.

According to one report: Interesting EngineeringThe goal is to develop digital clothing that can accurately detect and record body movements, so conductive threads have been added to the seams of the garments so they can generate electrical circuits.

The resistance from these circuits changes depending on the movements of the person wearing these garments.

This wearable technology aims to surpass current devices that sense body movements, such as smartphones and smartwatches, and provide accurate information on body movements by efficiently monitoring and analyzing physical activity.

A statement from the University of Bristol said the research was presented at the Designing Interactive Systems (DIS) conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, according to the magazine.

“This will provide the foundation for electronic textile designers and clothing manufacturers to create cutting-edge garments that can enhance exercise, physical therapy and rehabilitation,” the statement said.

According to the publication, Professor Mike Fraser from the University of Bristol’s School of Computer Science said, “We have demonstrated that the common overlock seams found in standard clothing construction are excellent at sensing motion. Our design eliminates the need for a separate power source by combining the seams with a charging coil, drawing energy wirelessly from the phone in your pocket.”

Fraser also said that when a low voltage is passed through the threads, the resistance changes as the wearer moves, allowing the fabric to sense and record postural movements.

The recorded data is then transmitted to the wearer’s mobile phone, which is carried in their pocket.

“This means that advanced motion-sensing garments can be produced without any changes to existing manufacturing processes,” Fraser said, according to the magazine.

“Using advanced AI techniques, we have also demonstrated that a smartphone app can leverage this movement data to tailor body movements to specific postures and gestures, such as for physiotherapy exercises.”