Digital Clothes? Why Wearable Tech Will Become Even More Wearable

The Future of Fashion Meets Technology

Choosing your future activewear garments may soon involve more than simply picking out a color and a style. Experts are now developing ways to track your movement via methods that could soon supersede the humble smartwatch, and sports brands are taking note.

The Birth of “Clever Clothing”

Apparently, it’s all down to the presence of harmless electrical signals that travel through conductive threads stitched into the clothing, say experts who have helped develop the new technology at Bristol University in England. “We’ve shown that common overlocked seams in standard garment constructions can do a good job of sensing movement,” explained Professor Mile Fraser commenting on a new paper that was presented during the 2024 Designing Interactive Systems conference in Copenhagen.

The Technology Behind SeamSleeve

The design avoids the need for a separate power source by pairing the seam with a charging coil, drawing the energy wirelessly from a mobile phone placed in the pocket. “The smartphone app uses advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques to analyze the movement data and match body movement to specific postures or gestures,” said Fraser.

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The Future of Fitness Tracking

The fact that movement sensing technology can be installed inside traditional overlocked seams also means that brands will be able to adopt this future fashion hack, currently dubbed ‘SeamSleeve,’ without making a wardrobe malfunction. “We’re excited by the opportunity for clothing manufacturers to implement our designs in sleeves and other garment seams,” said Fraser. “This means advanced motion sensing garments could be made without altering existing manufacturing processes.”

Accuracy and Convenience

While transforming our clothing into wearable tech offers some obvious immediate benefits such as convenience, scientists also say that the motion tracking that SeamSleeve offers has the potential to be more accurate than that currently seen in existing wearable fitness devices. “We have also shown that smartphone apps using advanced AI techniques can use this movement data to match body movement to specific postures or gestures such as physiotherapeutic exercises,” said Fraser.

The Impact on Fashion and Fitness

In the not too distant future, tracking your squats really could depend on your choice of shirt. SeamSleeve technology has the potential to revolutionize the way we track our movements, making it easier to monitor our fitness goals and receive personalized feedback.

What Does the Future Hold?

As wearable tech becomes even more wearable, we can expect to see a significant shift in the way we interact with our clothing. SeamSleeve technology has the potential to transform the way we live, work, and play, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds.

Conclusion

The future of fashion is set to become even more wearable, with experts developing ways to track our movements via methods that could soon supersede traditional wearable devices. SeamSleeve technology has the potential to revolutionize the way we track our fitness goals and receive personalized feedback, making it easier to monitor our progress and achieve our goals.

FAQs

Q: How does SeamSleeve technology work?
A: SeamSleeve technology uses harmless electrical signals that travel through conductive threads stitched into clothing to track movement.

Q: Is the technology powered by a separate power source?
A: No, the technology uses a charging coil that draws energy wirelessly from a mobile phone placed in the pocket.

Q: Is SeamSleeve technology more accurate than traditional wearable devices?
A: Yes, SeamSleeve technology has the potential to be more accurate than traditional wearable devices, using advanced AI techniques to analyze movement data.

Q: Will SeamSleeve technology alter the manufacturing process of clothing?
A: No, SeamSleeve technology can be implemented in existing garment seams without altering the manufacturing process.