Example content - SfE

NEW DEVELOPMENTS ●●NEW DEVELOPMENTSWearable ComputingImagine a world where people are encased in an individual bodynet, a wireless,apparel-based computer network that lets them make phone calls, checke-mail, watch TV, listen to music and pay bills as they walk down the street.BY 2010 WE'LL ROUTINELY WEAR PCS THAT ARESO SMALL THAT WE WON'T BE ABLE TO SEE THEM.This article describes howmanufacturers are workingto combine conventionalsewing and electronicstechniques with a newrange of fabrics, to createinteractive, digital clothing.Wearable ComputingA wearable computer is acomputer that is:■ Always with the user■ Is comfortable andeasy to keep and use■ Is as unobtrusive asclothing.The most obvious featureof a wearable computer isthat it can be used whileworking or movingaround. This distinguisheswearable computers fromdesktop and laptopcomputers and fromPDA-devices. Wearablecomputing may beseen as the result of adesign philosophy, thatintegrates embeddedcomputation and sensinginto everyday life, to giveusers continuous accessto the capabilities ofpersonal computing.Wearable computers haveWEARABLE COMPUTERS CANNOW MERGE SEAMLESSLY INTOORDINARY CLOTHING. IT ISNOW POSSIBLE TO INTRODUCEDURABLE, FLEXIBLE AND EVENWASHABLE MULTILAYERELECTRONIC CIRCUITS INTOTEXTILES PRODUCTS BY USINGCONDUCTIVE YARNS.different purposes; to helpfield workers in tasks thatrequire computation orcommunication and toextend human capabilities.The first line ofdevelopment is driven bypractical needs to copewith complex tasks suchas maintenance orassembly of complicatedappliances or informationgathering. In many cases,it is important that the usercan move around freelyand use both hands for themain task. Hands-freeoperation is important,especially in military andindustrial applications.The other trend seespart of the user. Thecomputer can:■■■Enhance the user’sawareness by givingextra information abouttheir environmentGive the user newsenses such as nightvision or radar.Help to organize andmemorize thingsApplications forWearable ComputingThe development ofconductive yarns opensup the opportunity for anentire computerisedclothing industry. In thenext decade, we are likelyto see a wide range ofdigital apparel enter theconsumer market. Severalexploring the possibility ofputting us in designercomputerised clothing,including IBM, Levi,Philips, Nike andSensaTex. In Europe, Leviis already test marketingthe musical jacketdeveloped by the MITMedia Lab.Other developmentsinclude:■ A wearable, wireless,broadband Internetdevice with GPS(Global PositioningSystem)■ Digital photographyand video capturecapabilities, that canbe controlled by voice,pen or handheldkeyboard input;■ Smart badges, whichallow for the exchangeof contact informationthrough infraredtechnology;■ Glasses that will allowfor discreet Web-surfing■ A necklace with a builtinvoice recorder thatallows the wearer todictate e-mail messages.Most of the wearableuse of what is known as aPersonal Area Network orPAN. The Personal AreaNetwork provides thebackbone for wearablecomputing. It allows thetransport of data, powerand control signals withinthe user’s personal space.Modular devices withfunctions shared bydifferent applications,such as mobile phones orMP3 players, can behooked up to the PersonalArea Network.The smart badge isdesigned for aiding thecommunication andnetworking that occurs atconferences. Using datarecovered from an infraredelectronic conferencebadge, the systemautomatically createsprivate, personalized webpages documenting theuser’s experiences duringthe conference.In the 1960s, enormouscomputers were kept inclean rooms behind glass.The Smart Badge –courtesy of Charmed TechToday they're tiny enoughto drop in a pocket. "By2010 we'll routinely wearPCs that are so small thatwe won't be able to seethem," predicts RayKurzweil, author of TheWearable computingAge of Spiritual Machines:– Seven of Nine fromWhen Computers ExceedStar TrekHuman Intelligence.SCIENCE FICTION? NO, SCIENCE FACT.Chipmaker Infineon Technologies is weaving itsproducts into an entirely new fashion industry:high-tech textiles. The Munich-based companyshowed off new prototype wearable chips that canbe sewn directly into clothing and other textiles.Infineon's Emerging Technologies Group hasdeveloped chips, sensors and packages that allowthe processors to be woven into fabrics. Specialmaterials woven into the fabric are used to connectthe chips and sensors.been developed for twowearable computers as acompanies are alreadyconcepts described makeThe glasses – courtesy of Charmed Tech10just 4Textiles ■ ISSUE 1 SUMMER 2003just 4Textiles ■ ISSUE 1 SUMMER 200311