Smart Textiles and Wearable Technology: Opportunities for Life Enhancement and Health Management
Smart textiles and wearable technology have the potential to change the way people dress, communicate, respond to emergencies, manage their health and even entertain themselves. They could also provide a much needed boost to the textile industries in the developed world. This report provides a wealth of information including descriptions of the characteristics of smart textiles and wearable technology, the development of the industry, the materials and technologies used, projects and corporate collaborations, potential markets, and opportunities and threats in the market. It also provides an overview of the applications of smart textiles and wearable technology in a number of fields -- namely fashion, communications, entertainment and infotainment, medical and healthcare, occupational health and safety, high visibility apparel, sports, and cosmetotextiles. Furthermore, the report presents examples of innovative smart textile and wearable technology products on the market.
SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
DEFINITIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF SMART TEXTILES AND WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY
Smart textiles
Wearable technology
Wearable computers
Electronic textiles
Wearable electronics
DEVELOPMENT OF SMART TEXTILES AND WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY
MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGIES USED TO MAKE SMART
TEXTILES AND WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY
Phase change materials
Electrically conductive fibres, yarns and fabrics
Shape memory materials
Chromic materials
Luminescent materials
Energy harvesting and scavenging systems
Photovoltaic materials
Piezoelectric materials
Thermoelectric devices
Auxetic materials
Shear-thickening materials
Metal organic framework molecules
PROJECTS AND CORPORATE COLLABORATIVE VENTURES IN SMART TEXTILES AND WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY
Projects for the development of smart textiles and wearable technology
Platform for Large Area Conformable Electronics by InTegration (PLACE-it)
Stretchable Electronics for Large Area Applications (STELLA)
ProeTEX
Corporate collaborative ventures in smart textiles and wearable technology
Apple and Burton Snowboards
Apple and Nike
Polar Electro and Adidas
Google and Apple
APPLICATIONS OF SMART TEXTILES AND WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY
Fashion
Communications, entertainment and infotainment
Medical and healthcare
Wearable textile-based health monitoring systems
Occupational health and safety
Military and defence
High visibility apparel
Sports
Cosmetotextiles
THE MARKET FOR SMART TEXTILES AND WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY
OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS IN THE MARKET
Opportunities
Shifting demographics
Publicly funded research and development
Increasing use of sensors and other electronics
Growing popularity of smartphones and social networking sites
Widespread use of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology
Threats
High costs
Economic recession
Dichotomy between the textile and electronics industries
Lack of standards
Power supply
Sustainability concerns
Product obsolescence
Incompatibility between different wearable devices
EXAMPLES OF INNOVATIVE SMART TEXTILES AND WEARABLE TECHNOLOGIES
CuteCircuit: M-Dress and Hug Shirt
Fabrican: spray-on fabric
Freer Logic: BodyWave
Orange: Sound Charge
Polytechnic School of Montreal: flexible battery
SmartLife
Under Armour: E39 shirt
ViewSport: smart gym wear
WarmX: heatable underwear
OUTLOOK
INTRODUCTION
DEFINITIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF SMART TEXTILES AND WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY
Smart textiles
Wearable technology
Wearable computers
Electronic textiles
Wearable electronics
DEVELOPMENT OF SMART TEXTILES AND WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY
MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGIES USED TO MAKE SMART
TEXTILES AND WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY
Phase change materials
Electrically conductive fibres, yarns and fabrics
Shape memory materials
Chromic materials
Luminescent materials
Energy harvesting and scavenging systems
Photovoltaic materials
Piezoelectric materials
Thermoelectric devices
Auxetic materials
Shear-thickening materials
Metal organic framework molecules
PROJECTS AND CORPORATE COLLABORATIVE VENTURES IN SMART TEXTILES AND WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY
Projects for the development of smart textiles and wearable technology
Platform for Large Area Conformable Electronics by InTegration (PLACE-it)
Stretchable Electronics for Large Area Applications (STELLA)
ProeTEX
Corporate collaborative ventures in smart textiles and wearable technology
Apple and Burton Snowboards
Apple and Nike
Polar Electro and Adidas
Google and Apple
APPLICATIONS OF SMART TEXTILES AND WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY
Fashion
Communications, entertainment and infotainment
Medical and healthcare
Wearable textile-based health monitoring systems
Occupational health and safety
Military and defence
High visibility apparel
Sports
Cosmetotextiles
THE MARKET FOR SMART TEXTILES AND WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY
OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS IN THE MARKET
Opportunities
Shifting demographics
Publicly funded research and development
Increasing use of sensors and other electronics
Growing popularity of smartphones and social networking sites
Widespread use of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology
Threats
High costs
Economic recession
Dichotomy between the textile and electronics industries
Lack of standards
Power supply
Sustainability concerns
Product obsolescence
Incompatibility between different wearable devices
EXAMPLES OF INNOVATIVE SMART TEXTILES AND WEARABLE TECHNOLOGIES
CuteCircuit: M-Dress and Hug Shirt
Fabrican: spray-on fabric
Freer Logic: BodyWave
Orange: Sound Charge
Polytechnic School of Montreal: flexible battery
SmartLife
Under Armour: E39 shirt
ViewSport: smart gym wear
WarmX: heatable underwear
OUTLOOK
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Types of chromic materials and the external stimuli to which they respond
Table 2: Energy from body heat generated during various activities
Table 3: Manufacturers using smart textiles and wearable technology and their products
Table 1: Types of chromic materials and the external stimuli to which they respond
Table 2: Energy from body heat generated during various activities
Table 3: Manufacturers using smart textiles and wearable technology and their products
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: ICD+ jacket
Figure 2: Georgia Tech Wearable Motherboard
Figure 3: PCMs embedded in textile fibres
Figure 4: End use markets for smart fabrics
Figure 5: Singer Rihanna performing in LED dress
Figure 6: Devices consumers would like to see integrated into their clothing
Figure 1: ICD+ jacket
Figure 2: Georgia Tech Wearable Motherboard
Figure 3: PCMs embedded in textile fibres
Figure 4: End use markets for smart fabrics
Figure 5: Singer Rihanna performing in LED dress
Figure 6: Devices consumers would like to see integrated into their clothing
