If you follow news stories on science
and innovation, the topic of "smart fabric" (aka smart textiles, smart clothing) shows up fairly often.
Evidently the technology is fairly slow to be integrated into commercial products because most of what
you will find during a search is either for women's novelty clothing or for military applications. That
tells me the price must still be too great for a Wal-Mart version to be produced.
There are
notable exceptions like this method of printing shapes on fabric that are only visible to digital cameras
because of the sensor's ability to capture colors beyond the range of human vision - clever. I am surprised
to never have seen this show up in the news where someone used the tech to get a T-shirt with a banned
message past event screeners (political, advocacy, etc.).
If you are into sunbathing, a solar
cell bikini is available that will keep your iPod running all day while you lie on the beach destroying
you skin cells.
Actual military gear that has been deployed is nearly impossible to find, which
means that it is not just price as an object, but also possibly ruggedness and performance. They could
tell you, but then they'd have to kill you ;-)
Plug and Wear company makes a fabric breadboard
that allows you to build breadboards on a wearable fabric. I thought it was a joke at first, but you
can actually use it as perf board to do point-to-point wiring using a soldering iron. A word of advice
for experimenters: if you make anything for your kids, be sure to use all lead-free components and solder
or be prepared to face the wrath of the EPA and Child Services Nazis!
"Kameraflage Inc. has developed patent-pending display technology that exploits a digital image sensor's
natural ability to see more colors than the human eye. By rendering content both in the visible and
invisible spectrum, Kameraflage displays enable an Augmented Reality experience accessible to anyone
with a standard digital camera or camera-phone, without the need for an internet connection or installing
an app."
"A solar film bikini that charges your iPod! (with a USB connection!) The suit is a standard medium-sized
bikini swimsuit retrofitted with 1" x 4" photovoltaic film strips sewn together in series with conductive
thread. The cells terminate in a 5 volt regulator into a female [appropriately] USB connection."
See video for more detail (1:01
point)
"Solderable soft perfboard. On this perfboard you can sew or even solder components! You can solder
SMD or standard components. It can be easily cut with scissors and sewn with a standard sewing machine.
Washable. "
"LumiGram's concept is based on the association of light and technology for style, using the latest
luminous technologies for creating and offering stunning fashion, clothing, decoration and luxury articles."
The GalaxyDress provides a spectacular and mesmerizing effect being embroidered with 24000 full color
LEDs, it is the largest wearable display in the world. The circuits are extra-thin, flexible, and hand
embroidered on a layer of silk in a way that gives it stretch, so the LED fabric can move like normal
fabric with lightness and fluidity. It is designed to work with iPods.
Intelligent Textiles
"At the Fine Group we [are] working with suppliers that are at the forefront of cutting edge technology
to ensure that we are always ‘one step ahead of the game’. One such company, with whom we are developing
a close working relationship, is Intelligent Textiles. ... A typical example is their fabric keyboard
that is, quite literally, the size of a handkerchief and this can be connected to a PDA, PC or cell
phone."
These images have been chosen for their uniqueness. Subject matter ranges from
historic events, to really cool phenomena in science and engineering, to relevant
place, to ingenious contraptions, to interesting products (which now has its own
dedicated Featured Product
category).
RF Cafe began life in 1996 as "RF Tools" in an AOL screen name web space totaling
2 MB. Its primary purpose was to provide me with ready access to commonly needed
formulas and reference material while performing my work as an RF system and circuit
design engineer. The World Wide Web (Internet) was largely an unknown entity at
the time and bandwidth was a scarce commodity. Dial-up modems blazed along at 14.4 kbps
while typing up your telephone line, and a nice lady's voice announced "You've Got
Mail" when a new message arrived...
All trademarks, copyrights, patents, and other rights of ownership to images
and text used on the RF Cafe website are hereby acknowledged.