![]() The Future of Smart Textiles Samantha Louth Smart Textiles can be classified in three categories. Each has evolved over time, some can be termed as ‘traditional’. Passive smart textiles - Passive is where a technology is integrated into a textile and its function is to do the one job, there is little combination. This is a early development of smart textiles, it is widely functionable when it comes to weather and change of climates. The ‘anti-microbial, anti-odour, anti-static, bullet-proof’ functions are dormant and do not further develop. Active smart textiles - This is the next generation from passive textiles. Technology engages and has the ability to store information. ‘Shape memory, chameleonic, water-resistant and vapour permeable.. heat storage, thermoregulated, vapour absorbing, and heat evolving fabric and electrically heated suits.’ For example, I wake up to go to work, I put my black blazer on - this means I drink coffee i.e the coffee machine downstairs in my kitchen prepares me a coffee. I grab my coffee, I then put my overcoat on, this is already heated because this is what I wear on cold winter mornings. The active textiles can predict what we will do based on our routine, this gives the algorithms that generate functionalities that we use regularly. Ultra smart textiles - These are the ultimately intelligent textile. The ultra smart fabric ‘consists of a unit, which works like a brain, with cognition , reasoning and activating capacities.’ This means it can adapt to the environment/climate we are in, detect our body tempeture. Connect with our phones, or a similar technology we will use for connectivity in the future. It could send out signals to a close by friend to meet for a coffee. This can also use algorithms to predict our next move, what are we doing, where are we going etc. The possibilities are endless. The future of smart textile is now, but only popular amongst the innovator type of consumer, the ones first on the market to have whats new. Smart textiles are slowly creeping into the market, made available for the average consumer. Certain products hit niche markets, a small percent of people that are willing to buy the product for a certain functionality , for example - health monitoring clothing, ‘The sensory baby vest’- which consists of monitors and sensors that track a babies breathing, movement etc. In the long term future, smart textiles are widely available to everyone. In the future it is a way of living. In the future they are not a big deal, everyone has smart fabrics in their wardrobes. Like smartphones, 10/15 years ago, smart fabrics will eventually saturate the market. Does it seem far fetched now? Think about predictions 20 years ago of location devices on us at all times or retina scanning or even shoes that strap on themselves. Basically, think how far fetched Speilbergs ‘Back to the future’ film was when you first watched it, now the things you see are an everyday technology. As technology develops from Passive to active to ultra, where will it be when the wider consumer panel is ready to use it? Md. Syduzzaman, Sarif Ullah Patwary, Kniz Farhana, Sharif Ahmed, Smart Textiles and Nano- Technology: A general overview(February 2015), Bangladesh University of Textiles, Bangladesh. Accessed: www.omicsonline.org on [15March2018]
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