Are you ready to turn your outfit into your doctor?!
There are plenty of devices on the market that track things such as heart rate, breathing, and even sleep.
But what if all those health signals could be monitored… while you wear your favorite shirt?!
Wearing your AI on your sleeve is the new black
A team of MIT scientists led by Yoel Fink has developed the first digital fabric that has the ability to process and store information while the user is still wearing it.
The electronic fiber is able to write, store, and read information. It’s even able to store a short movie and music file for 48 days – without using power!
To accomplish this type of “smart” fiber, the researchers put hundreds of silicon digital chips into a casting mold – then combined it with a polymer fiber.
Doing this creates a thread measuring tens of meters long. The thread contains hundreds of those digital chips throughout, which maintain a continuous electrical connection.
The fiber can also live through at least 10 laundry days without breaking down – it’s smart and clean!
Stitch and sew in the tech
Although it may seem like a lot… the fabric is actually small enough to pass through the eye of a needle. Yes – all while being complex enough to be able to incorporate AI technology into its network!
To test its abilities, the team sewed the smart fabric into the armpit of a shirt to collect data of the wearer.
The system gathered 270 minutes of body temperature data. It was also able to determine which physical activity the user was performing based on the amount of sweat.
It had a 96% accuracy rate… not bad for a shirt!
This type of technology could be great for long-term health monitoring. It could consistently and conveniently collect data by monitoring irregular heartbeat and/or breathing patterns. And that’s just scratching the surface!
According to MIT researchers, this is the first advance in a fabric that can be programmed and then process and store digital data.
So what do you think… would you be willing to wear a fabric that monitors your body? Or is a smartwatch fitness tracker already more than enough?
Be sure to let us know what you think in the comment section below!
I would join a trial. It isn’t practical yet, but it would be exciting to push the science ahead for my grandkids.
Yes I’d buy it. I agree with all the comments. Has to be safe to wear, fairly cheap so we can all afford to buy it, find ways to read the info it saves, after 10 washes find out what happens next, etc.
I would definitely wear a fabric like this, especially if it’s reading my vitals. Also this could help your primary care Dr with your annual physical. Go MIT, I am not a smart watch person at all. This though sounds intriguing, LOL.
We agree Desiree! Great way to connect your health to your doctors so you can use the data to make you healthier!
Only 10 washes? What happens to the fabric after that? Can it be recharged, reprogrammed? Maybe it could recharge continuously by using the body’s electrical output? How do you read the data, store it, transfer to a different device? Can you upload previous data to a new shirt? Does it have an app that goes with it?
Conclusion: cool idea, potentially a wonderful tool, lots of bugs to work out first. Unless it will continue working for the life of the shirt, not sure it’s practical yet.
Emily – you are spot on. Technology is moving so fast. In the beginning things will be buggy, and as more and more people start using it, the products get refined and improve rapidly.
Absolutely I would wear it as long as it’s safe!!! Where can I get one???
This sounds awesome and extremely everything one would need and feel safe with having a few ailments and lots of meds. Would appreciate any information or update as released.
Regards Bridget
I would really be interested in wearing this, as I have quite a few problems with my health, I might look fit enough, but you or anyone cant see what is happening on the inside of me, lots of people will know exactly what I mean,
Take care everyone.
Malcolm
Yes, this is a brilliant idea. Yes I will wear it. But under one condition. How save would it be. Because there are questions about the smart watch causing cancer because of there radiation.
Yes yes yes YES! I WOULD LOVE TO WEAR THE FABRIC!!
Absolutely I would wear this fabric. Great idea
Awesome :))
I believe it will be in use in the near future. Some people will object because of there fear it will be used against them … but it also has so many positive possibilities. I’m almost 69 years old and I choose to believe we will move to positive outcomes.
I like it!!
I would LOVE to try something like this! If there are any trials, sign me up!
It might be useful in the medical world even in the sports world but not for the likes of me (being an old sceptic) I’m sure they will find a good use for it if you have the means to pay for it
I think it’s awesome. I’d use it. As long as it’s not connected to government collecting data. I alreadyba few big brothers. Don’t want an other one!
This new fabric technology could become very valuable in hospital to help monitor the vitals of bedridden patients. During my long stay in the hospital during covid, I often asked if all this data could be performed some way the the bed. Hopefully, its in the near future. Thank you.
Yes, I think so.
would definitely use this I am allergic to a lot of medicines and this would reduce the type and amount of different medicines tried to find cause.
I would certainly be willing to wear a fabric that monitors my body as long as I was able to read the data maybe via Bluetooth