
E-textiles

Wearable Technology Insights
Jun 15, 2022

Rubber Camouflage Skin Exhibits Smart and Stretchy Behaviours
The skin of cephalopods, such as octopuses, squids and cuttlefish, is stretchy and smart, contributing to these creatures' ability to sense and respond to their surroundings. A Penn State-led collaboration has harnessed these properties to create an artificial skin that mimics both the elasticity and the neurologic functions of cephalopod skin, with potential applications for neurorobotics, skin prosthetics, artificial organs and more.
Wearable Technology Insights
Jun 3, 2022

Stretchable, Waterproof Fabric Turns Body Movements into Electricity
Scientists have developed a stretchable and waterproof 'fabric' that turns energy generated from body movements into electrical energy.
Wearable Technology Insights
May 25, 2022

Smart Films Facilitate Human-Machine Interaction
Imagine this: A smooth touchscreen display placed on top of a thin silicone polymer film suddenly generates the feeling of a tiny raised button under the user's finger. Or how about the idea of wearing that same polymer film like a second skin? If used to line an industrial glove, the film can provide valuable feedback by gesture recognition and by sending tactile signals, such as pulses or vibrations, to the wearer.
Wearable Technology Insights
May 24, 2022

Soft Printing Technique Opens the Way for Pixelated Elastics
Borrowing a technique from inkjet printers, researchers have rolled out a pixel-by-pixel method to program and manufacture soft structures for use in robotics, biomedical devices or architectural features.
Wearable Technology Insights
May 4, 2022

Engineers Get Under the Skin of Ionic Skin
In the quest to build smart skin that mimics the sensing capabilities of natural skin, ionic skins have shown significant advantages. They're made of flexible, biocompatible hydrogels that use ions to carry an electrical charge. In contrast to smart skins made of plastics and metals, the hydrogels have the softness of natural skin. This offers a more natural feel to the prosthetic arm or robot hand they are mounted on, and makes them comfortable to wear.
Wearable Technology Insights
May 2, 2022

Electronic Skin Anticipates and Perceives Touch
Researchers have taken a major step forward in the development of sensitive electronic skin with integrated artificial hairs. E-skins are flexible electronic systems that try to mimic the sensitivity of their natural human skin counterparts. Applications range from skin replacement and medical sensors on the body to artificial skin for humanoid robots and androids.
Wearable Technology Insights
Apr 5, 2022

Stretchable and Printable Free-Form Lithium-Ion Batteries
A Korean research team has developed a soft, mechanically deformable, and stretchable lithium battery which can be used in the development of wearable devices, and examined the battery's feasibility by printing them on clothing surfaces.
Wearable Technology Insights
Mar 29, 2022

Electronic Gloves Help Transfer Knowledge
Researchers have developed tools to help trainee surgeons master intricate surgical procedures in the form of surgical gloves containing electronics to record the subtle, fast and controlled hand movements of skilled surgeons.
Wearable Technology Insights
Mar 23, 2022

Design Tweak Helps Prevent Malfunction in Yarns That Store Energy
Researchers have found a way to prevent electrical malfunctions in yarns designed to store electrical energy. Ultimately, the findings could help advance the development of "smart textiles" that would capture energy from the wearer's movements and power sensors and wearable electronics.
Wearable Technology Insights
Jun 15, 2022

Rubber Camouflage Skin Exhibits Smart and Stretchy Behaviours
The skin of cephalopods, such as octopuses, squids and cuttlefish, is stretchy and smart, contributing to these creatures' ability to sense and respond to their surroundings. A Penn State-led collaboration has harnessed these properties to create an artificial skin that mimics both the elasticity and the neurologic functions of cephalopod skin, with potential applications for neurorobotics, skin prosthetics, artificial organs and more.
Wearable Technology Insights
May 25, 2022

Smart Films Facilitate Human-Machine Interaction
Imagine this: A smooth touchscreen display placed on top of a thin silicone polymer film suddenly generates the feeling of a tiny raised button under the user's finger. Or how about the idea of wearing that same polymer film like a second skin? If used to line an industrial glove, the film can provide valuable feedback by gesture recognition and by sending tactile signals, such as pulses or vibrations, to the wearer.
Wearable Technology Insights
May 4, 2022

Engineers Get Under the Skin of Ionic Skin
In the quest to build smart skin that mimics the sensing capabilities of natural skin, ionic skins have shown significant advantages. They're made of flexible, biocompatible hydrogels that use ions to carry an electrical charge. In contrast to smart skins made of plastics and metals, the hydrogels have the softness of natural skin. This offers a more natural feel to the prosthetic arm or robot hand they are mounted on, and makes them comfortable to wear.
Wearable Technology Insights
Apr 5, 2022

Stretchable and Printable Free-Form Lithium-Ion Batteries
A Korean research team has developed a soft, mechanically deformable, and stretchable lithium battery which can be used in the development of wearable devices, and examined the battery's feasibility by printing them on clothing surfaces.
Wearable Technology Insights
Mar 23, 2022

Design Tweak Helps Prevent Malfunction in Yarns That Store Energy
Researchers have found a way to prevent electrical malfunctions in yarns designed to store electrical energy. Ultimately, the findings could help advance the development of "smart textiles" that would capture energy from the wearer's movements and power sensors and wearable electronics.
Wearable Technology Insights
Jun 3, 2022

Stretchable, Waterproof Fabric Turns Body Movements into Electricity
Scientists have developed a stretchable and waterproof 'fabric' that turns energy generated from body movements into electrical energy.
Wearable Technology Insights
May 24, 2022

Soft Printing Technique Opens the Way for Pixelated Elastics
Borrowing a technique from inkjet printers, researchers have rolled out a pixel-by-pixel method to program and manufacture soft structures for use in robotics, biomedical devices or architectural features.
Wearable Technology Insights
May 2, 2022

Electronic Skin Anticipates and Perceives Touch
Researchers have taken a major step forward in the development of sensitive electronic skin with integrated artificial hairs. E-skins are flexible electronic systems that try to mimic the sensitivity of their natural human skin counterparts. Applications range from skin replacement and medical sensors on the body to artificial skin for humanoid robots and androids.
Wearable Technology Insights
Mar 29, 2022

Electronic Gloves Help Transfer Knowledge
Researchers have developed tools to help trainee surgeons master intricate surgical procedures in the form of surgical gloves containing electronics to record the subtle, fast and controlled hand movements of skilled surgeons.