Ultrathin smart fibre created by Singapore, China researchers seen as ‘leap’ forward in wearable tech

Ultrathin smart fibre can be woven into fabrics to turn everyday outfits into wearable electronics, team behind feat says in Nature article

Virginia Tech experts not connected with study say invention represents ‘a leap towards embedding microcomputers into everyday clothing’

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A smart watch with a flexible band able to measure heart rates is among the innovative uses for the new smart fibre described in a Nature article by the team behind the feat. Photo: Handout

Published: 4:00pm, 1 Feb 2024Updated: 5:21pm, 1 Feb 2024

Scientists in Singapore and China’s top research institute say they have developed an ultrathin smart fibre that can be woven into fabrics to turn everyday outfits into wearable electronics.

A jumper interknitted with the new semiconductor fibres as thin as human hair would be able to share pictures with other wearers via a wireless light-based communication system.

A similarly made beanie could help a visually impaired person cross the road safely, by sending traffic signal information to a phone and triggering it to vibrate in line with the changing colours.

What’s more, both the jumper and the beanie would be machine washable.

Again, instead of a smartwatch with rigid hardware, the fibre would let users opt for a flexible watch band to measure heart rate.

And a “smart top” worn to the museum would be able to receive information about exhibits and feed it into an earpiece while the wearer moved around the halls.