Wearable Sensing Tech Lets Stretchable Electronics Drape Around Our Body

Stretchable Electronics has been around for some time. We told you about#-Link-Snipped-#designed by University of California Engineers and about the #-Link-Snipped-#that stretch to 200% the original size. And here we have the stretchy technology going a step further, thanks to the researchers from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). They have engineered a new material that conducts electricity and can easily drape around our body. Sounds interesting, eh? Well, the research work involved - using flexible polymers and nano-carbon materials to develop this pressure sensitive, water-proof and washable fabric. Being a light-weight material that breaths air, it went very well on human skin, thereby opening new vistas in health care and medical sector by finding applications in  wearable health monitoring devices.
Putting this novel tech to use, researchers were able to demonstrate a pair of "Smart Shoes" that can help a person monitor his/her health round-the-clock without the need to wear a single wire or electrode on the body. These smart shoes have this fabric fitted in the shape of the sole on it, sensors embedded in which send alerts when say an elderly falls over. It can even track the location of a person suffering from dementia, in case he/she gets lost.
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One of the researchers on this team, Dr. Aaron Wang has suggested that these stretchable sensors can find great applications in fabric push buttons, game controllers or even dance pads. We look forward to the day when stretchy electronics become a part and parcel not just of the day but of the person's being. Doesn't seem far off!
Via: #-Link-Snipped-# | #-Link-Snipped-#