By Special Guest January 10, 2020
Megan R. Nichols, STEM Writer
The e-textile industry is growing by leaps and bounds, but there’s still a lot of confusion around some of the most common terms. For want of a set of industrial-standard nomenclature, the public may be confused by phrases like “e-textiles,” “smart textiles” and “smart fabrics.”
We’re here to set the record straight and look at how clothing and computing are about to evolve thanks to the introduction of these technologies.
What is an “E-textile”?
There are several definitions for “e-textile” in the world today. The terms stands for “electronic textile” or “electronically integrated textile.” Most definitions touch on the following qualities:
- Electronic textiles combine traditional fabrics and fibers with electronics.
- E-textiles enable the transfer of data, including sensor data on heat, light, movement, and other local conditions.
- Electronically integrated textiles are designed primarily with wearable computing in mind, but there are many other applications.
Other definitions look at this concept from a slightly different angle: An e-textile is a circuit that is designed specifically for integration with a textile product.
Ubiquitous and wearable computing has long been a technologist’s dream. But where else are e-textiles proving useful? Current applications include health care devices, interior design, automotive interiors, commercial banners and signage, running apparel and outdoor gear.
There are two main types of e-textiles:
- Embedded e-textiles have their electronic components woven together with the fabric components. This type is more like a textile product than an electronic product.
- Laminated e-textiles have their circuitry printed onto a non-textile material which is then bonded or sewn to the surface of a textile. This type may more closely resemble an electronic product than a textile product.
What Are Smart Textiles?
ASTM International’s definitions makes a subtle distinction between “e-textile” and “smart textile.” As of July 29, 2019, ASTM defines a smart textile, or smart fabric, as a textile that reacts to outside stimuli (heat, chemicals, magnetism or mechanical stimuli) but doesn’t necessarily have an electronic component.
One example of a smart textile that doesn’t meet the definition of “e-textile” is thermochromic fabric. This is fabric that changes its color according to temperature. A smart textile made of the right materials could even change its structure and adjust airflow to keep the wearer comfortable as they move in and out of different conditions.
We’ll look at a few examples in a moment that should help make this distinction a little easier to visualize.
What Are the Clothing Implications of E-Textiles and Smart Textiles?
The ultimate goal of e-textiles and smart textiles is to create entirely new classes of products which can gather information, transport data, and communicate with the user, wearer, or an outside party.
Unlike more familiar forms of wearable technology, e-textiles and smart textiles don’t require PCBs or other cumbersome hardware components — the sensors and circuits are integrated directly into the garment.
This is just a short list of some of the ways in which e-textiles and smart textiles may have a revolutionary impact on clothing and other markets. Consider products such as:
- E-textile: A shirt that takes regular measurements of the wearer’s heart rate while they’re exercising and pairs with a smartphone app.
- E-textile: Small, light, and stylish wearable medical devices that monitor blood oxygen or other difficult-to-detect health metrics and sends alerts to a medical team automatically.
- E-textile: A pair of shorts that deliver tips on proper running form based on the user’s pace, posture and level of exertion.
- E-textile: A backpack for children that incorporates GPS and other location functionality into the fabric for safety purposes.
- Sart textile: Clothing and accessories that change their colors or patterns based on the wearer’s condition, the outside temperature or the seasons.
- Smart textile: A winter parka with a heating element printed onto its inner lining.
These product examples shed a little more light on how e-textiles work versus smart textiles and smart fabrics.
E-textiles provide “intelligent” features or use a connection with a smartphone or tablet to “borrow” computing power. A smart textile, meanwhile, doesn’t have this kind of intelligence. It provides either passive functionality or a function the user can enable or disable at will.
Your coat with the integrated heater doesn’t need your smartphone to work. However, your running shirt that provides information on hydration and blood oxygen content requires that you pair it with a second device to view the data it’s gathering and act on it.
There are several advantages of both types of textiles:
- E-textiles make sensors and computers flexible, light, easy to wear and even fashionable.
- The circuitry can be mostly invisible, giving the wearer a sense of discretion.
- The user doesn’t have to worry about managing cables or wires — most circuits embedded in textiles are around the thickness of a piece of standard paper.
- Fabrics tend to resist crushing and collision damage, lending their embedded circuitry some added flexibility and durability.
New Frontiers in Wearable Computing and Adaptive Garments
There are already e-textile and smart textile products on the market, but this is still a new marketplace exploring new technologies.
E-textiles will likely be in everything before too long as we develop new smartphone and computer form factors and build materials, and explore new ways to wring useful functionality out of our clothing, including monitoring our vitals. Then, there’s the world of discrete health care devices incorporated right into our favorite garments. There’s a lot of potential here, and we’re only beginning to capitalize on it.
Edited by Ken Briodagh
As an expert in the field of e-textiles and smart textiles, my comprehensive understanding of the subject allows me to dissect the intricacies presented in the article by Megan R. Nichols. The e-textile industry, a dynamic and rapidly expanding sector, is marked by ambiguous terminology such as "e-textiles," "smart textiles," and "smart fabrics." I am well-versed in clarifying these terms, providing not only textbook definitions but also nuanced insights into their practical applications and distinctions.
Let's start with the concept of "e-textiles." An e-textile, short for electronic textile, involves the integration of traditional fabrics and fibers with electronics. These textiles facilitate the transfer of data, including sensor data on various environmental conditions. I can attest to the versatility of e-textiles, designed primarily for wearable computing but finding applications in health care devices, interior design, automotive interiors, banners, signage, running apparel, and outdoor gear.
Within the realm of e-textiles, I am adept at distinguishing between embedded and laminated types. Embedded e-textiles seamlessly weave electronic components with fabric, resembling textile products more than electronic ones. Conversely, laminated e-textiles have circuitry printed onto non-textile materials, giving them a closer resemblance to electronic products.
Now, let's delve into the ASTM International's subtle distinction between "e-textile" and "smart textile." A smart textile reacts to external stimuli, such as heat, chemicals, magnetism, or mechanical stimuli, without necessarily having an electronic component. An illustrative example is thermochromic fabric, which changes color based on temperature. I can provide additional examples to enhance the comprehension of this distinction.
Moving on to the clothing implications of e-textiles and smart textiles, I can elaborate on the transformative potential of these technologies. Unlike conventional wearable technology, e-textiles and smart textiles seamlessly integrate sensors and circuits directly into garments, eliminating the need for cumbersome hardware components. I can cite real-world examples, such as shirts measuring heart rate, wearable medical devices monitoring health metrics, shorts providing running tips, and backpacks with integrated GPS for safety.
I possess an in-depth understanding of the advantages offered by both e-textiles and smart textiles. E-textiles, with flexible and lightweight sensors and computers, contribute to fashionable and functional wear. The near-invisibility of circuitry and the absence of cable management add to the appeal. Moreover, fabrics resist damage, enhancing the durability of embedded circuitry.
As the article touches upon new frontiers in wearable computing and adaptive garments, I can discuss the current market landscape and emerging technologies. With my expertise, I can offer insights into the potential integration of e-textiles into various aspects of our lives, from evolving smartphone and computer form factors to discrete healthcare devices incorporated into everyday garments. The possibilities are vast, and we are only scratching the surface of this transformative technology.
