Singapore Boffins Weave a GUI Into Fabric (theregister.com) 21
Researchers at the National University of Singapore have developed a machine-washable electronic fabric that can turn clothing into an interactive graphical user interface. The prototype reportedly survived 50 gentle machine washes and 1,000 bending cycles, though it still relies on external batteries and controllers. The Register reports: The development could lead - at some point - to a "future in which clothing functions as a pervasive, multimodal human-computer interface," according to the study published in peer-reviewed science journal Nature this week. The paper shows someone interacting with computing devices using the sleeve of a wool sweater (no jokes about the Windows ugly sweater please, this is serious). The researchers, led by Singapore National University research engineer Fu Heng, claim this is a big leap forward.
"This fiber-centric approach shifts wearable electronics from flexible panels toward truly textile-native architectures, laying the groundwork for fabrics that visualize, sense, communicate and compute as naturally as the garments they inhabit," the paper says. The researchers claim to have developed a scalable process to make millimeter-thick fibers. Using lasers to strip the insulation from specific spots on the thin copper wires, they attached light-emitting chips to the exposed sections, creating electrical connections to the chips. Thousands of chips were connected to the wires with extreme precision using this process.
The fibers were then fed into a transparent plastic tube, and made pressure-sensitive by adding two strips of a compressible, conductive polymer into a second longitudinal channel in the tube. The paper says they could make fibers 10 meters long using this method, and that they are thin and flexible enough to be woven into or attached to fabrics. The researchers were also able to add "peripherals" such as a microphone, a speaker, a temperature sensor and a light sensor.
"This fiber-centric approach shifts wearable electronics from flexible panels toward truly textile-native architectures, laying the groundwork for fabrics that visualize, sense, communicate and compute as naturally as the garments they inhabit," the paper says. The researchers claim to have developed a scalable process to make millimeter-thick fibers. Using lasers to strip the insulation from specific spots on the thin copper wires, they attached light-emitting chips to the exposed sections, creating electrical connections to the chips. Thousands of chips were connected to the wires with extreme precision using this process.
The fibers were then fed into a transparent plastic tube, and made pressure-sensitive by adding two strips of a compressible, conductive polymer into a second longitudinal channel in the tube. The paper says they could make fibers 10 meters long using this method, and that they are thin and flexible enough to be woven into or attached to fabrics. The researchers were also able to add "peripherals" such as a microphone, a speaker, a temperature sensor and a light sensor.
Invisibility cloak (Score:1)
Re: Invisibility cloak (Score:2)
Yeah, it's gonna be literally impossible to see you walking around in that thing emitting visible light in all directions.
Re: (Score:3)
Yeah, it's gonna be literally impossible to see you walking around in that thing emitting visible light in all directions.
If the visible light emitted is exactly the same intensity, color, and pattern as the background behing you, yes, you'd be very nearly invisible.
Only from one direction, though (unless the background is nearly featureless).
Re: (Score:3)
If the visible light emitted is exactly the same intensity, color, and pattern as the background behing you, yes, you'd be very nearly invisible.
Only from one direction, though (unless the background is nearly featureless).
It would have to reproduce the light field to sell the illusion. Otherwise would be obvious especially when walking around.
Re: (Score:2)
It would have to reproduce the light field to sell the illusion.
Exactly.
Re: (Score:2)
Well, I suppose, as long as the viewer is standing at exactly the right angle, in relation to your position.
Adaptive camouflage (Score:2)
If this could be used for a person's entire outfit then it won't be long before it is used for being invisible.
I think it would be more accurate described as adaptive camouflage. Using camera shots of your immediate surrounding to decide between woodland, desert, urban, night, snow, etc patterns. The perfect mimicry needed for "invisibility" is a bit too difficult, assumes a single viewing angle. its just not as useful as hollywood suggests. Motion gives you away, and a viewer who is moving and seeing you from different angles can see something a little bit like "warping". Not trying to perfectly mimic one backgroun
Boffin your shoes, guv'na? (Score:1)
Yes, thank you, young man. Here's a shilling,* keep the change.
*A shilling being a transcendental fraction of the King's pound sterling, of course. Cuz if you're going to have a king and put his face on your money, any rationality in your currency is out the window already.
Re: (Score:2)
Camera on back (Score:2)
Video display on chest. Perfect Halloween costume.
Obligatory John Brunner quote (Score:2)
First you use machines, then you wear machines, and then...? Then you serve machines.
Arguably, we started wearing machines with the advent of the smartphone, so I think a case could be made that we're already serving machines to some extent. But with the advent of LLMs - and now a wearable GUI - our servitude may grow by leaps and bounds. Yay!
Re: (Score:2, Troll)
Arguably, we started wearing machines with the advent of the smartphone
Pocket watch.
so I think a case could be made that we're already serving machines to some extent.
Time to start work! Eight o'clock, on the dot!
since when (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Could be a touch screen.
Actually, any controller would work. With sufficient computation it could use a voice controller.
Finally a true Material Design! (Score:2)
NO, no no no no (Score:2)
"The development could lead - at some point - to a "future in which clothing functions as a pervasive, multimodal human-computer interface,"
FUCK NO, DO NOT WANT.
So... (Score:2)
... we would literally need only one T-shirt!
A Proper Palaver at the Gaff (Score:2)