Revolutionizing the Future of Fashion: SeamSleeve Uses Conductive Threads to Track Body Movements in Wearable Technology

A collaboration between the University of Bristol and the University of Bath has led to the development of a new technology called ‘SeamSleeve’ that captures and records body movements. This innovative wearable technology utilizes conductive threads added into the seams of garments to create electrical circuits that change resistance based on a person’s movements. By monitoring and analyzing physical activities, SeamSleeve provides accurate body movement information.

The technology presented at the Designing Interactive Systems (DIS) conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, lays the foundation for e-textile designers and clothing manufacturers to develop cutting-edge garments that can enhance exercise, physiotherapy, and rehabilitation. Professor Mike Fraser from the University of Bristol’s School of Computer Science explained that the design avoids the need for a separate power source by pairing the seam with a charging coil that draws energy wirelessly from a mobile phone placed in the pocket.

The resistance changes along with the wearer’s movements as low voltage passes through the threads, allowing the cloth to sense and record movements in posture. The recorded data is transmitted to the wearer’s mobile phone for analysis. Smartphone apps using advanced AI techniques can utilize this movement data to match body movements to specific postures or gestures, such as physiotherapeutic exercises.

SeamSleeve aims to outperform devices like smartphones and smartwatches in sensing body motion by integrating conductive threads into the seams of garments. This offers a new way to create digital clothing that can accurately track and record body movements without altering existing manufacturing processes.