Smart+Textiles

We are inspired to mimic nature in order to create clothing materials with higher levels of functions and smartness Cloning silk fibres was a first step Can the skin -a smart material- be mimicked? The skin has sensors that can detect pressure, pain, ambient conditions, etc. and can intelligently function with environmental stimuli Smart textiles are materials and structures that sense and react to environmental conditions or stimuli, such as those from mechanical, thermal, chemical, electrical, magnetic or other sources. Smart textiles are no longer a science-fiction fantasy. For example, there are in the market self-cleaning carpets, memory-shaped and environment-responsive textiles, and anti-insomniac micro-fibres. According to the manner of reaction, smart textiles can be divided into: Passive smart materials, which can only sense the environmental condition or stimuli, Active smart materials, which sense and react to the condition or stimuli, Very smart materials, which can sense, react and adapt themselves accordingly, and Intelligent materials, which are those capable of responding or activated to perform a function in a manual or pre-programmed manner
 * Smart Materials**

Applications for ‘Smart’ clothing will include healthcare and telemedicine; military, police and emergency service equipment; entertainment, sports and leisure; and fashion wear. Wearable electronics will support the development of distributed computing and communications systems and provide benefits in support of major Foresight initiatives, such as crime prevention and the ageing community. Great video clip for you to see about smart textiles, making new fabric for underware which warms us up, cools us down, and moisturises.
 * http://smartextiles.co.uk/overview/smart-materials/**
 * http://www.abc.net.au/catapult/indepth/s1435357.htm**

Check out the news article "Smart" textiles emerge from nanotechnology, there is a video link worth looking at.
 * http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6713188**

Check out smart technology used in clothing such as fire fighters protective suits. And finally a powerpoint presentation with a bit of background information. media type="custom" key="543353"
 * http://www.osnf.com/**