Smarty pants: computing meets motion-sensing fabric

Scientists at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute are figuring out how to manufacture pants that detect movement.

A loom helps sew the wires and fabric together. Then sensors embedded in the fabric measure the speed, rotation and flexibility of the pants with every movement. Wireless signals are sent from the pants to a computer to display the activity.

The technology could monitor someone with a chronic illness, keeping tabs on whether that person is still moving around. The researchers aren't limiting the technology to just pants, either, talking about integrating sensors into shirts, hats and gloves, too.

Source: advancedimagingpro.comAdded: 12 October 2006