At the Designing Interactive Systems (DIS) conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, a team of scientists from the University of Bristol and the University of Bath unveiled a new technology called ‘SeamSleeve’. This cutting-edge wearable technology aims to revolutionize the way we monitor and analyze physical activities by capturing and recording body movements through clothes.
The SeamSleeve technology is designed to provide accurate body movement information by integrating conductive threads into the seams of garments. These threads create electrical circuits that change resistance based on the person’s movements. The design avoids the need for a separate power source by pairing the seam with a charging coil that draws energy wirelessly from a mobile phone placed in the pocket.
The resistance changes along with the wearer’s movements as low voltage passes through the threads, allowing the cloth to sense and record movements in posture. The recorded data is transmitted to the wearer’s mobile phone for analysis. Smartphone apps using advanced AI techniques can utilize this movement data to match body movements to specific postures or gestures, such as physiotherapeutic exercises.
Professor Mike Fraser from the University of Bristol’s School of Computer Science explained that this innovative technology aims to outperform devices like smartphones and smartwatches in sensing body motion. The integration of conductive threads into the seams of garments offers a new way to create digital clothing that can accurately track and record body movements without altering existing manufacturing processes.
Overall, SeamSleeve represents a significant step forward in motion-sensing technology, providing an efficient and accurate way to monitor physical activities through clothing.