Your next purchase might be a smart textile.

At Ghent University several research groups deal with developing the textiles of the future. To demonstrate what exactly these groups are doing, prototypes are made within the framework of this project UGent TextielMobiel. These prototypes are meant to make the general public acquainted with new technologies.  

Smart textiles or wearable textile systems are an emerging market. These systems can be defined as garments comprising following six components: sensors, data processor, actuator,  energy supply, communication unit (antenna), interconnections.

Figure - The components of a wearable textile system

Through a wearable textile system information on the human body (heart rate, respiration rate, movement) or on the environment (humidity, temperature) can be collected. These data are processed and then wirelessly transmitted to a nearby base station.

Imagine a firefighter who’s heart rate and respiration rate are monitored through the T-shirt that he is wearing, while this information is being transmitted to a command post where it is evaluated and considered safe to continue the operation (see ProeTex project).

Each of the components of a wearable textile system are part of ongoing research in a variety of disciplines, such as material science, electronics and information technology. Also at Ghent University this leads to a multi disciplinary cooperation between research groups.

This project results in a symbiosis of research developments in tangible applications.
Furthermore, the combination of a common material such as textile and advanced technology draws the attention of young and old, which is what we fully exploit within the framework of this project.

Who participates?
Centre for Microsystems Technology – UGent
Institute of Psychoacoustics and Electronic Music – UGent
Department of Textiles – UGent
Department of Information Technology – UGent

This project is funded by UGent - Werkgroep Wetenschapscommunicatie en -popularisering

Duration: 01/2009 - 12/2011

Contact: dr. ir. Carla Hertleer