Purdue engineers from Purdue University have developed two novel treatments to turn textiles into smart clothes. The E-textiles are said to have energy-harvesting abilities that are also waterproof and can be washed with soap and water. Researchers anticipate that this innovation will help accelerate the development of wearable technology.
To develop an E-textile for smart clothes, the Purdue team first sewed a silk-based flexible coil into conventional clothing. Then, the clothes were sprayed with a hydrophobic coating. Both technologies work together to create smart clothes. The clothing is flexible, washable, batter-free, and works underwater. Assistant professor Ramses Martinez envisions that "smart clothes will be able to transmit information about the posture and motion of the wearer to mobile apps, allowing machines to understand human intent without the need of other interfaces."
Washable Battery-Free E-Textiles
Purdue Engineers Developed Energy-Harvesting Smart Clothes
Trend Themes
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2. Wearable Technology - The application of the Purdue engineers' innovations to develop waterproof and washable wearable technology is a clear opportunity to disrupt the wearables market.
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Industry Implications
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