Ideas
Explore the world's #1 largest database of ideas and innovations, with 474,842 inspiring examples.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,276 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 305,558 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Consumer Insights
Uncover major shifts and emerging opportunities with our exclusive PRO research.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,276 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 305,558 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Trend Reports
Get fast, customized trend reports, presentations and deep dives 20x faster than traditional research.
Plans
Get started today with a free consultation, our self-serve tools, or a dedicated program.
Articles & Magazine
Get inspired with our 4,223 innovation strategy articles, keynote, videos and innovation tools.
Innovation Awards
Trend Hunter’s Innovation Strategy Awards recognize the best innovation tactics gathered from our interviews with some of the world's most notable business leaders, authors and change makers.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Innovation Assessment
Enhance your innovation potential with a deeper understanding of your unique innovation archetype and how your organization benchmarks.
FuturistU
Prepare for the years ahead with 100+ lessons, tactics, tools and frameworks with our full learning database.
Innovation Books
Join 20,000,000 people getting better and faster with our New York Times Bestselling books and keynote videos.
Jeremy Gutsche
Ignite your event or virtual event with our CEO, a NY Times Bestselling Author and one of the top innovation keynote speakers.
Our Team of Speakers & Virtual Presenters
Inspire your group with our most popular speakers on innovation, trends, change and futurism.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Custom Masterclasses
Join the world's leading brands who leverage our custom programs to accelerate innovation.
FuturistU 5-Day Program
Become a Futurist with our immersive 5-Day program at Future Festival World Summit.
Online eLearning
Learn the fundamentals of futurism and trends with 100+ online courses about innovation.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Contact
Get in touch to learn more, ask a question or submit a tip.
About Us
Learn more about Trend Hunter and how we accelerate innovation.
Follow-Us
Join our 3,500,000 social media followers, on the cutting edge.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
FAQ
Get answers to common questions about Trend Hunter.
Community
Stay on the cutting-edge with the help of the Trend Hunter community.
Team
Meet the team trusted by hundreds of leading businesses worldwide.
Jobs
Find opportunities to accelerate your career with the #1 Trend Firm.
News
Catch up on noteworthy Trend Hunter news and media mentions.
Join
Build a portfolio and put your trend-spotting abilities to the test.
Advertising
Supercharge your marketing by partnering with Trend Hunter.
Portfolio
Visit your public portfolio and browse your past articles.
Add a Trend
Write up an article and showcase your trend-spotting skills.
My Trends
Edit your articles and see how they stack up on the leaderboards.
Settings
Edit your profile, connect your social media accounts, and more.
Add a trend, customize your dashboard, or track topics.
Future Festival
Innovation Events
Join the world's top innovators at our in person events.
Free Webinars
Learn to innovate through chaos, navigate the new normal and maintain work culture from home.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Search our database of 474,842 cutting edge ideas.

Origami Antenna-Infused Threads

Ohio State University Researchers are Working with Smart Fabrics

— October 30, 2018 — Life-Stages
The ElectroScience Laboratory at the Ohio State University is working with a material that can potentially revolutionize the use and implementation of smart fabrics into clothing. The technique is called 'Antenna Embroidery.' Each thread consists of bundles of twisted metal-coated polymer filaments. The resulting electricity-conducting e-thread can be fed into an embroidery machine and thus, added to garments. Due to their flexible nature, the e-thread antennas can be combined with complex designs — such as company logos, as well as be added to very thin textiles.

The e-threads can be connected to sensors and batteries, providing functional smart fabrics that are incredibly useful for wearable developers. The researchers have tested the embroidery-infused antennas and have been able to create "smart hats that read deep brain signals for patients with Parkinson's or epilepsy," for example. This venture into smart fabrics is definitely beneficial, when it comes to monitoring a patient's health.
Trend Themes
1. Antenna Embroidery - Revolutionize the use and implementation of smart fabrics into clothing by incorporating antenna embroidery technique.
2. E-thread Antennas - Create functional smart fabrics by connecting e-thread antennas to sensors and batteries.
3. Wearable Health Monitoring - Utilize smart fabrics for monitoring a patient's health, such as reading deep brain signals for patients with Parkinson's or epilepsy.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion and Apparel - Explore disruptive innovation opportunities in incorporating antenna embroidery into clothing to create smart fabrics.
2. Healthcare and Medical Devices - Discover disruptive innovation opportunities in utilizing e-thread antennas for wearable health monitoring in the field of healthcare.
3. Sensor Technology - Find disruptive innovation opportunities in connecting e-thread antennas to sensors for creating functional smart fabrics.
2.3
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness