Computer scientists from the University of Bath, UK, have found that garment seams made with conductive yarn can be used to track body movement if placed strategically. These charged seams can respond to subtle movements that aren’t picked up by fitness trackers like watches or wristbands.The researchers at Bath discovered that clothing with conductive seams could be used to analyze the wearer's movement patterns.Olivia Ruston, a PhD student, presented her work at the ACM Designing Interactive Systems conference. She said that there are many potential uses for conductive yarn in any activity that aims to improve the quality and identify movement. This could prove to be extremely useful in rehabilitation, physiotherapy, and sports performance.While a number of scientists have been developing flexible textile sensors for garments for some years, the Bath project marks the first time that researchers have tested the placement and concentration of conductive sewns. The design of smart clothing that tracks movement is important for both where and how many seams are added to a garment.Ms Ruston stated that there is great potential to exploit the wear of clothing and technology. Although a lot of people have been experimenting with etextiles, we don't have a common understanding between fashion designers and technologists. We need to connect these groups so that we can find the best ways to embed tech in clothing.Ms Ruston's team used a conductive core, which is a combination metal-polymer resistive fabric that allows for stretch and pressure sensing. It activates at low voltages once it has been incorporated into the seam of a garment. As the body moves, the resistance changes.The study involved connecting the seams to a microcontroller and then to a computer where the voltage signal was recorded.Professor Mike Fraser, coauthor and head, Computer Science said that "our work provides implications for sensing driven clothing design. Intelligent seam placement will play an important role in shaping design and manufacturing processes as we see new opportunities for clothing functionality. This could ultimately influence what is fashionable.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch
