Conductive ink is hardly a new technology, but while current methods of conductive printing are limited to rigid materials such as plastic and paper, researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed a new, more versatile conductive ink that could revolutionize the world of electronic and interactive apparel.
The new conductive ink was developed by Professor Takao Someya's research group and is unique for its elasticity. Not only can the ink be printed onto textiles in one simple step (which is itself an improvement upon previous conductive inks), but the elastic property of the ink allows it to remain highly conductive even when it is stretched to three times its original length. The research team was successful in using the conductive ink to produce a wristband able to measure muscle activity.
While it may be some time before this innovative technology is perfected enough to hit the market -- considering many sports apparel companies have sought out monitoring technology to include on their apparel -- this new conductive ink will no doubt be in high demand.
Electronic Inked Apparel
Versatile Conductive Ink Was Developed for High End Electronic Apparel
Trend Themes
1. Versatile Conductive Ink - The development of a more versatile conductive ink could disrupt the world of electronic and interactive apparel by allowing it to be printed onto textiles and remain highly conductive even when stretched.
2. Electronic Apparel - The introduction of electronic apparel, made possible by advancements in conductive ink, presents a disruptive innovation opportunity for the fashion industry.
3. Interactive Textiles - The use of conductive ink opens up possibilities for interactive textiles that can detect and measure various body activities, creating potential disruptive innovation opportunities in healthcare and sports industries.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion - The fashion industry can benefit from the incorporation of versatile conductive ink, enabling the creation of high-end electronic apparel.
2. Sports - Sports apparel companies seeking monitoring technology can explore the disruptive potential of integrating the new conductive ink into their products, enhancing the functionality and performance for athletes.
3. Healthcare - The healthcare industry can leverage the development of conductive ink to create garments with embedded sensors for monitoring muscle activity, offering potential disruptive innovation in remote patient monitoring or physical therapy applications.