TOPIC: SMART TEXTILES

Objective: To find out the solution for problem facing by development of biomedical
smart textile and its harmful effect.
Abstract: Smart textiles research represents a new model for generating creative and novel
solutions for integrating electronics into unusual environments and will result in new
discoveries that push the boundaries of science forward. A key driver for smart textiles
research is the fact that both textile and electronics fabrication processes are capable of
functionalizing large-area surfaces at very high speeds.
Smart and interactive textiles are fibrous structures that are capable of sensing, actuating,
generating/storing power and/or communicating. Research and development towards
wearable textile-based personal systems allowing e.g. health monitoring, protection & safety,
and healthy lifestyle gained strong interest during the last 10 years. Smart fabrics and
interactive textile wearable systems regroup activities along two different and complementary
approaches i.e. "application pull" and "technology push". This includes personal health
management through integration, validation, and use of smart clothing and other networked
mobile devices as well as projects targeting the full integration of sensors/actuators, energy
sources, processing and communication within the clothes to enable personal applications
such as protection/safety, emergency and healthcare. So here in case of smart textiles we are
using the conductive fibers such as metal yarn. This paper includes the origin and
introduction of smart textile and integrated wearable electronics for sport wear, industrial
purpose, automotive & entertainment applications, healthcare & safety, military, public
sectors and new developments in smart textiles.
In this research we review the history of smart textiles development, introducing the main
trends and technological challenges faced in this field. Then, we identify key challenges that
are the focus of ongoing research. We then proceed to discuss fundamentals of smart textiles:
textile fabrication methods and textile interconnect lines, textile sensor, and output device
components and integration of commercial components into textile architectures. Next we
discuss representative smart textile systems and finally provide our outlook over the field and
a prediction for the future.

INTRODUCTION
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SMART TEXTILES are defined as textiles that can sense and react to environmental
conditions or stimuli, from mechanical, thermal, magnetic, chemical, electrical, or other
sources. They are able to sense and respond to external conditions (stimuli) in a
predetermined way. Textile products which can act in a different manner than an average
fabric and are mostly able to perform a special function certainly count as smart textiles.
Textiles are ubiquitous to us, enveloping our skin and surroundings. Not only do they provide
a protective shield or act as a comforting cocoon but they also serve aesthetic appeal and
cultural importance. Recent technologies have allowed the traditional functionality of textiles
to be extended. Advances in material science have added intelligence to textiles and created
smart clothes. Smart textiles can sense and react to environmental conditions or stimuli,
e.g. from mechanical, thermal, chemical, electrical or magnetic sources. Such textiles find
uses in many applications ranging from military and security to personalised healthcare,
hygiene and entertainment. Smart textiles may be termed passive or active. A passive
smart textile monitors the wearers physiology or the environment e.g. a shirt with in-built
thermistors to log body temperature over time. If actuators are integrated the textile becomes
an active smart textile as it may respond to a particular stimulus, e.g. the temperature aware
shirt may automatically rolls up the sleeves when body temperature becomes elevated. The
fundamental components in any smart textile are sensors and actuators. Interconnections,
power supply and a control unit are also needed to complete the system. These components
must all be integrated into textiles while still retaining the usual tactile, flexible and
comfortable properties that we expect from a textile. Adding new functionalities to textiles
while maintaining the look and feel of the fabric is where nanotechnology is having a huge
impact on the textile industry.
The potential impact of smart textiles for healthcare is significant; risk assessment and
diagnosis will be faster and more accurate, treatment and care will be more effective.
Intelligent suits fit in with societal trends; the ageing population increasingly requires health
monitoring and support which smart clothing could provide. These new textiles are
knowledge based with high added value. They can be custom made for specific end uses.
Consequently their economic impact is expected to be extremely high as well.
Many aspects need to be addressed when designing intelligent clothing. Several disciplines
must be combined such as material science, medicine and electronics. An intelligent suit, for
example, must be fully self- sufficient, comfortable, durable and reliable, easy to use and with
low care requirements. The challenges are at least as big as the potential benefits. The way to
successful commercial development is long but many steps have already been taken.
The research addresses intelligent textiles for health care applications. It includes
contributions for material designers, system manufacturers and end users. This gives a broad
introduction to all aspects of the potential, development and use of intelligent textiles for
medicine and health care.

History
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The basic materials needed to construct e-textiles; conductive threads and fabrics have been
around for over 1000 years. In particular, artisans have been wrapping fine metal foils, most
often gold and silver, around fabric threads for centuries. Many of Queen Elizabeth I's gowns,
for example, are embroidered with gold-wrapped threads.
Smart textiles were introduced in early 1990s, strongly influenced by military research and
wearable technology in general. One of the pioneering projects was the Wearable
Motherboard [Park et.al], which is a garment with integrated sensors and communication
capabilities. The garment aims to rescue soldiers by monitoring their health status in real
time. Another pioneering researcher is Maggie Orth [Post et. al] from MIT who explored the
different sensing and actuating capabilities of textile structures. During her PhD studies Orth
created a set of working prototypes where conductive structures, colour changing materials
and electronics were combined into soft interfaces. In 2000 Phililps presented their
exploration of wearable technology and smart textiles through the project New Nomads
[Manzano et.al], which is a visionary show collection rather than working prototypes. The
project was carried out in a design studio by an interdisciplinary team and presented by a set
of visionary concepts.
The basic concept of Smart Textile consists of a textile structure that senses and reacts to
different stimuli from its environment [Tao]. In its simplest form the textile sense and reacts
automatically without a controlling unit, and in a more complex form, smart textiles sense,
react and activate a specific function through a processing unit. The main parts included in a
smart textile system are the sensor, the actuator and the controlling unit.
MATERIALS & STRUCTURE
Sensor materials and structures
The basis of a sensor is that it transforms one type of signal into another type of signal. There
are different materials and structures that have the capacity of transforming signals. A thermal
sensor for examples, detects thermal change. Other examples are stimuli-responsive
hydrogels that swell in response to a thermal change or humidity sensors that measure
absolute or relative humidity. Pressure sensors convert pressure to an electrical signal and
strain sensors convert strain into an electrical signal. Chemical sensors are a series of sensors
that detect presence and concentration of chemicals. Biosensor is a sensing device that
contains biological elements which is the primary sensing element. This element responds
with a property change to an input analyte, for example the sensing of blood glucose levels.
Actuator materials and structures
Actuators respond to a signal and cause things to change colour, release substances, change
shape and others. Chromic materials, which are widely used in smart textile applications, as
colour change material, change their optical properties due to stimuli like temperature, light,
chemical, mechanical stress etc. [Addington,Schoedeck]. Stimuli-responsive hydrogel is a
three-dimensional polymer network that responds to stimuli such as pH, electric filed or
temperature changes. The response is swelling and they are also able to release chemicals
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when required [Lam Po Tang, Stylos]. Shape memory materials transform energy, mostly
thermal, into motion and are able to revert from one shape to a previously held shape. There
are two types of shape memory materials, Shape Memory Alloys, SMA, based on metal, and
Shape Memory Polymers, SMP. [Addington, Schoedeck] [Lam Po Tang, Stylos].
Electroluminescence materials are light emitting materials where the source of excitation is
an applied voltage. Light emitting diodes converts electrical potential to light and are often
used as actuators in smart textile applications.
Conductive materials
Besides sensors and actuators there is a group of materials that conducts electricity, these are
the conductors. They are usually not categorised as sensors or actuators but, due to their
conductive properties, they are useful in smart applications. As pathways to transferring data
information but they are also important components in the creation of sensors and actuators.
Metals, like silver and copper are the most conductive materials [Harling]. Carbon has a good
conductivity and is used both in its own pure form but also blended in other material to
enhance their conductivity for example silicone. Conductive polymers are organic materials
that are able to transport electricity. There are difficulties to be faced both in the processing of
these materials as well as a non-sufficient conductivity for most applications, however in the
creation of sensor conductive polymers could be used since these applications are not always
dependant on high conductivity [Berglin]
Electronics
In terms of intelligence, the smart system will require a central processing unit that will carry
out data to the different sensors and decide action on the basis of the results [Worden]. The
processing unit consists of hardware and software where the software causes unique dynamic
behaviour in real time. The traditional package of computing material is a computer that
allows data processing as well as communication. The processing unit is a complex structure
of electronic circuitry that executes stored program instructions. Included in this structure are;
integrated circuits, secondary storages, power supply and communications technologies
[Tao2]. Most integrated circuits are made of silicon because of the semiconductor properties
of this substance. Another type of circuit suitable for wearable application is organic
electronics. These materials are flexible, lightweight, strong and have a low production cost,
however the electronic properties of the conducting polymers do not match those of silicon
[Tao2]. The most common power sources are AA batteries or lithium batteries. Other forms
of power supply such as flexible thin batteries have been considered and investigated.
Applications of Smart Textiles for Healthcare
Smart textiles for healthcare include textile sensors, actuators and wearable electronics
systems embedded into textiles that enable registration and transmission of physiological
data, and wireless communication between the wearer and the operator, for example, patient
and medical personal. Such systems ensure patients mobility, thereby providing a higher
level of psycho-physiological comfort, especially when a long-term bio-monitoring is
required (Kirstein, 2013, Catrysse, Pirotte, 2007; Textilien und textile..., 2012; Cherenack,
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van Peterson, 2012; Chan, Esteve, 2012; Alemdar, Ersoy, 2010; Schwarz, van Langenhove,
2010). Generally, applications of smart textiles for medicine and healthcare vary from the
surgical applications of single yarns to complex wearable and axillary systems for
personalized healthcare.
There is no still classification smart textile for these applications, but initially those can be
described referring to commonly distinguished groups in conventional medical textiles. Of
course, due to new functions, several new categories must be highlighted. Those are textile
drug-release systems, textiles with biometric performance and active textiles for therapy and
wellness.
Summarized main applications fields of smart medical textiles (Rigby, Anand, 2000, Bartels,
2011,Van Langenhove, 2007, Vargas, 2005).
Applications of smart textiles for medicine and healthcare
Application
Surgery

In vitro
Bandages
Wound-care

In vivo
Sutures
Soft-tissues
Orthopaedic implants
Cardiovascular implants

Hygiene

Uniform for medical personal

Hospital textiles
Smart bandages and plasters

Cardiovascular and
haemodynamic activity
Neural activity
Muscle activity and kinematics
Respiratory activity
Thermoregulation
Electrical stimulation therapy
Physiotherapy
Auxiliary systems
Active
thermoregulation
systems

Drug-release
systems
Bio-monitoring

Therapy and
wellness

Figure 2. Embroidered scaffold (Rotsch, Hanus, 2009) (a); wound dressing with pH sensor
(b) (Pasche, Schyrr, 2013); warming blanket for decubitus prophylaxis (Image: Warming
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Blanket, 2013) (c)

Within new achievements in material science and textile related disciplines, new advanced
products referred to smart medical textiles are entering this sphere.Specifically for
implantable surgical materials, a real breakthrough has been gained in tissue engineering
using textile technology that ensures two- and three-dimensional structure development. Such
implantable structures and compounds encourage cell distribution and adhesion in the body.
Moreover, those can possess outstanding mechanical properties and ensure opportunity to
create different geometrical structures.

Figure 3. Medical textile with a lubricating drug-delivery dressing (Gerhardt, Lottenbach,

2013) (a)Wearable MotherboardTM for vital signs monitoring (Image: Wearable
MotherboardTM , 2013; Park, S., Jayaraman, 2001) (b); Philips phototherapy blanket for
new-borns jaundice treatment (Lorussi, Scillingo, 2005) (c)

Drivers for smart textiles in medical care

Figure1. Project Overview in relation to clothing applications

This figure does not claim to be scientifically true; it is rather a roughly made figure with too
few components. Further, the size and turnover of the different companies are not known,
which means that they are just equally compared. Despite these shortcomings the figure
visualise one aspect never discussed in previous market overviews and analyses: The EUprojects are dominantly represented in the area of health care and work wear while the
company activities are more represented in the sport and fashion areas. This could illustrate
the gap between research efforts and the actual desire to make a commercial risk.
The drivers for current development of smart textiles have traditionally come from military
research and space exploration where rigorous performance under extreme conditions is
paramount. The protection of the individual in hostile environments, and the necessity for
communication and monitoring have provided impetus both for materials and textile research,
which then transfer to civilian use, creating an urgent need for improvements in administering
nursing care, delivery of drugs, surgical and other medical procedures, including monitoring
and diagnosis, therapeutic treatments and profession interactions in patient recovery. This
leads to products driven by stringent performance standards criteria which tests the parameter
and will provide the new paradigms for the future. New research into textiles with specific
functionalities could meet both patient and hospital needs in major areas.
The enablers for smart textiles are therefore both technological and commercial- the potential
market for smart products has been estimated to become a multi- billion dollar business over
the next ten years, of which a substantial proportion will be in the medical area, making
research and development a viable investment, the results of which also have cross over
benefits to non- medical situations.
Wearable computing
The vision of wearable computing describes future electronic systems as an integral part of
our everyday clothing serving as intelligent personal assistants. Therefore, such wearable
sensors must maintain their sensing capabilities under the demands of normal wear, which
can impose severe mechanical deformation of the underlying garment/substrate.
One promising approach to reduce the rigidity of electronic textiles and enhance its
wearability is to replace PCBs by flexible electronics. Some methods show advantages with
respect to others, but in our opinion and in according to the consulting company Smart
Garment People (Lancashire, UK), while some manufacturers are very experienced with
electronics and others with textiles, very few do both well.
Current advances in textile technologies, new materials, nanotechnology and miniaturized
electronics are making wearable systems more feasible but the final key factor for user
acceptance of wearable devices is the fit comfort.
We are convinced that this goal can only be achieved by addressing mechanical resistance,
and durability of the materials in what is recognized to be a harsh environment for
electronics: the human body and society.

The development of smart textiles requires a multidisciplinary approach in which knowledge

of circuit design, smart materials, micro-electronics and chemistry are fundamentally
integrated with a deep understanding of textile fabrication.

Applications

A Sports and Human Performance

The sports sector, through seeking to improve athletic performance, personal comfort and
protection from the elements, has driven significant research activity within the textile
industry, e.g. breathable waterproof fabrics such as Goretex and moisture management
textiles like Coolmax. It is even possible to maintain constant body temperature using
phase-change technology used in Outlast Adaptive Comfort where excess body heat is
absorbed, stored and released when needed. Clothes are increasingly able to adapt
dynamically to the needs of the wearer. The latest developments integrate sensing capabilities
to provide instantaneous awareness of the physiological condition of the athlete, thus
providing valuable information about the athlete's physical abilities, training status, athletic
potential, and responses to various training regimens. Demand for wearable sensors that can
be used in real situations for kinematic analysis, vital sign monitoring and biochemical
analysis is expanding rapidly, as the technology becomes increasingly viable. Strain sensors,
made from piezo-electric materials may be used in biomechanical analysis to realize wearable
kinesthetic interfaces able to detect posture improve movement performance and reduce
injuries. Such devices may be used to teach athletes the correct way to perform movement
skills by providing real-time feedback about limb orientation. A new and exciting area of
research that will have major impact for sports performance involves integrating chemical
sensors into textiles. The aim of the EUsupported BioTex project is to perform real-time
analysis of various constituents in sweat. For effective rehydration strategies it is important
not only to replace volume losses, but also electrolytes.

Personalised Healthcare

The concept of personalised healthcare empowers the individual with the management and
assessment of their own healthcare needs. Wearable devices allow physiological signals to be
continuously monitored during normal daily activities. This can overcome the problem of
infrequent clinical visits that can only provide a brief window into the physiological status of
the patient. Smart clothing serves an important role in remote monitoring of chronically ill
patients or those undergoing rehabilitation. It also promotes the concept of preventative
healthcare. Given the current world demographics there is a need to shift the focus of
healthcare delivery from treatment to prevention, and also to promote wellness monitoring
rather than diagnosis of illness. Two EU-funded projects, WEALTHY and MyHeart, involve
a wearable textile interface integrating sensors, electrodes and connections realised with
conductive and piezoelectric yarns for monitoring vital signs. New products coming onto the
market for similar applications include the Smartshirt by Sensatex and the Life Shirt
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system by Vivometrics, offering continuous ambulatory monitoring systems for the

healthcare sector. Traditionally, textiles have been regarded as an essentially passive skin
that provides enhanced protection, comfort and appearance, whereas smart textiles have the
potential to emulate and augment the skins sensory system by sensing external stimuli such
as proximity, touch, pressure, temperature and chemical/biological substances. For conditions
such as diabetes mellitus, where the patient loses sensation in the limbs, or bedridden
patients, pressure sensitive fabrics may aid in assessment and warning to reduce the
occurrence of pressure ulcers. With nanotechnologies, smart textiles may provide a fully
functioning haptic interface potentially a second, more sensitive skin. Novel functionalities
in textiles are of course not limited to personal apparel. Home furnishings may be enlisted
into ubiquitous sensing within smart homes for telemonitoring of elderly, convalescent or
isolated communities. This is an integral component in thecontinuity of care concept that
textile based sensing can provide through monitoring patients in their home environment, and
familiar surroundings.

Military/security

In extreme environmental conditions and hazardous situations there is a need for realtime
information technology to increase the protection and survivability of the people working in
those conditions. Improvements in performance and additional capabilities would be of
immense assistance within professions such as the defense forces and emergency response
services. The requirements for such situations are to monitor vital signs and ease injuries
while also monitoring environment hazards such as toxic gases. Wireless communication to a
central unit allows medics to conduct remote triage of casualties to help them respond more
rapidly and safely.

Fashion/lifestyle

The development of high-tech advanced textiles for initial high-value applications such as
extreme sports will eventually find its way into street fashion, with designers employing their
creativity to use these emerging materials in new ways. We are becoming increasingly reliant
on technology carrying MP3 players, laptops, mobile phones and digital cameras. These
devices all contain common components such as power supply, microprocessor, data
transmission. As the technology is becoming more flexible these could ultimately be
integrated into a common textile substrate - our clothes, becoming truly portable devices.
Already there are textile switches integrated into clothing for the control of such devices.
While technology may be hidden through invisible coatings and advanced fibers, it can also
be used to dramatically change the appearance of the textile, giving new and dazzling effects.
Light emitting textiles are finding their way onto the haute couture catwalks, suggesting a
future trend in technical garments.

Effective development of smart textiles solutions to medical

The development of smart textile solutions to medical problems and procedures can be
achieved only through a combination of several areas expertise and research. This research
process starts from users requirements and needs and takes a human centred product
development approach focused on design solutions, thus avoiding the cyborg- like effect of
earlier wearable computing such as the MiThril vest developed by MIT in 2000 in which
computer parts in pouches were distributed externally over a vest.
A number of technologies platforms have now been established, based on different
underlying technologies, by pioneering companies such as softswitch and eleksen, which
integrate electronic functionality into textiles and clothing. However, power supply for all
electronic solutions still remains a fundamental problem when attempting to impart electronic
functionality into clothing whilst simultaneously remaining completely portable. The
development of a personal or body area network has been a key goal, particularly in military.

Advantages and disadvantages

The smart textile technology has greatly improved since the beginning of their first use back
in the early 1990s. The main advantage to the smart textile technology is that you can be
monitored from outside the hospital. This lets one have the freedom to be at home worry-free,
knowing that you can still continue your weeks normally, knowing that youre still being
monitored. Another advantage to the smart clothing is that its lightweight and portable. This
allows movement and comfort to the patient.
With all the positive advantages to the devices there are disadvantages. The systems are
neither waterproof nor weather resistant, and some, if not most, of the costs may not be
covered by ones insurance provider. Additionally, under FDA law, calibrations to the
machine/medical device must be done yearly. This constricts the patient to a single area. If
calibrations have to be completed, the patient would have to take time off of their day to meet
with the doctor.
FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
Further developments in interactive and wearable electronics include garments and clothing
that contain Lumalive textiles that are able to transmit messages/advertisements. They have
the ability to change colour, and contain LEDs incorporated within the clothing. Phillips the
electronics company behind these latest innovations is planning to develop fabrics with
Lumalive technology that will allow soft furnishings such as cushions, curtains etc. to
transform/ alter colour and illuminate consecutively enhancing mood and atmosphere of their
surroundings.

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To take the next step towards electronic clothing (made of electronic textiles) research has to
be carried out in the following areas:
Clothing technology for manufacturing testing under wearing conditions and
washing/cleaning treatments investigation of reliability we have seen that electronics can not
only be attached to textiles but also realized in form of textile structures. Today, some
performances cannot be compared with conventional computer technology. There are also
some limitations concerning mass production and reliability. In the future it could become
quite difficult to clearly separate electronic textiles from the aforementioned method of
miniaturization plus attachment, because computers could be miniaturized until they are
molecule-sized. In this case attachment to fibres or fabrics would also lead to what we
define as electronic textiles. Plastic was a revolution and nano-technology will probably be
the next big change. There are a lot of thoughts about what could be done if we were able to
manipulate, rearrange and build from molecules and atoms. Having a machine that changes a
bicycle tire into meat, self-cleaning carpets, changing state from rigid to flexible and visa
versa.
Smart Textiles face tough challenges
Smart fabrics and intelligent textiles, materials that incorporate cunning molecules or clever
electronics, are thriving and European research efforts are tackling some of the sector's
toughest challenges. Clothes that monitor your heart, measure the chemical composition of
your body fluids or keep track of you and your local environment promise to revolutionise
healthcare and emergency response, but they present tough research challenges, too.
Smart textiles must be comfortable, their technology must be unobtrusive, they must
withstand a difficult and variable environment and, particularly for medical and emergency
applications, they must be absolutely reliable. These are all tough challenges, but they must
be overcome to realise the considerable benefits and lucrative market potential of smart
textiles and intelligent fabrics (SFIT). The market is thought to be worth over 300m and
current growth rates are about 20% a year.
Major trade fairs are showing an increasing number and variety of smart textile and
wearable intelligence prototypes for all kinds of applications that will eventually alter our
lives.
Specialists
consider safety
and
intervention,
(home) care
and
medical, military, sports and leisure applications as the major growth markets for these
products. The presence of (Flemish) companies on these markets is growing but they still
encounter open questions and deficits. Knowledge on smart textiles and wearable
intelligence, industrial processing and communication possibilities, distribution channels,
maintenance are some of these issues.
By stimulating the collaboration across the ICT, electronic and textile sectors and confection
companies by means of the collective project (Trajectory) SMARTpro we aim at supporting
companies in application-specific product development and production.

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We define smart textiles and wearable intelligence as the collection of (textile) materials and
(textile-based) products incorporating one or more electronic components and/or
communication capabilities.
In this context, Centexbel, Sirris, IMEC, HoGent, Katholieke Hogeschool Vives/Cretecs,
UGent, KULeuven and iMinds have initiated the SMARTpro project financed by IWT.
The project does not focus on the development of new electronic systems or prototypes but
on the industrial processeability and applications of smart textiles and wearable
intelligence in:

safety and intervention

(home) care

sports and leisure

technical applications

Therefore, we choose to work exclusively with reliable and modular electronic systems
and software. We are building on the knowledge already acquired in many European and
other R&D projects. Complex systems are therefore avoided. Keep it simple and less
is more are guidelines determining the selection of e-systems and industrial application
or assembling techniques.
Methodology
This study makes an introduction to the sphere of smart textiles for healthcare and further
focuses on biomedical applications that are based on the sensorial textiles compounds.
Further, the research systematically describes the main types of such developments and most
common technological solutions. Also it describes the advantages and disadvantages of smart
textiles.
For this research I followed the descriptive research methodology in which I go through the
secondary data and collected the information by which I can give the better discussion of the
synonpsis .

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Conclusions
The advent of wearable technologies will affect many aspects of our daily lives and by the
development smart nanotextiles such technologies will allow innocuous sensing of the wearer
and their environs. A major challenge in wearable computing at present is how to
interconnect components and to find alternatives to conventional silicon and metal
components which are difficult to integrate with soft textile substrates. Smart textiles must be
flexible enough to be worn for long periods of time, without causing any discomfort to the
wearer. This is critical in order to create viable and accessible products. The way forward is
to integrate materials at the nanoscale level, as this preserves the the flexible characteristics
and tactile properties that we expect from our clothing. Smart textiles will impact on a huge
range of applications, often starting at a highly specialized application before becoming
commonly available to the general consumer. In order for this to happen, research must be
broadly interdisciplinary ranging across materials research, sensor technologies, engineering,
wireless networking, computer applications. Furthermore, to create something truly wearable
input is needed from textile and fashion designers, and manufacturers. The needs of each
target application must be assessed in conjunction with the end users such as healthcare
professionals, the defense forces and sports physicians. There are so many potential
applications where smart nanotextiles may impact on our lifestyles and become ubiquitous in
this technology driven world.
Current advances in textile technologies, new materials, nanotechnology and miniaturized
electronics are making wearable systems more feasible but the final key factor for user
acceptance of wearable devices is the fit comfort. We are convinced that this goal can only be
achieved by addressing mechanical resistance, and durability of the materials in what is
recognized to be a harsh environment for electronics: the human body and society.
Finally, the development of smart textiles requires a multidisciplinary approach in which
knowledge of circuit design, smart materials, micro-electronics and chemistry are
fundamentally integrated with a deep understanding of textile fabrication.

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