Researchers at MIT have developed a breakthrough smart fibre capable of monitoring health and physical activity.
By embedding sensors, a microcontroller, digital memory, Bluetooth, and a battery into a single elastic fibre, they created a wearable that autonomously tracks health conditions without the need for bulky devices. These fibre computers, woven into clothing like leggings or tops, can measure data across large body areas in contact with vital organs, offering unique insights into human physiology.
The fibre’s accuracy in recognizing exercises improved drastically when multiple fibres communicated, achieving 95% accuracy.
This innovation can lead to real-time health tracking in everyday apparel, with potential applications in medical and military fields, including a successful test on soldiers during an Arctic mission.
With its flexible and washable design, the fibre holds promise for revolutionizing health monitoring.
