MIT Researchers Create 'Robotic' Textiles To Make Breath-Regulating Garments (mit.edu) 18
A new kind of fiber developed by researchers at MIT and in Sweden can be made into clothing that senses how much it is being stretched or compressed, and then provides immediate tactile feedback in the form of pressure, lateral stretch, or vibration. Such fabrics, the team suggests, could be used in garments that help train singers or athletes to better control their breathing, or that help patients recovering from disease or surgery to recover their breathing patterns. From a report: The multilayered fibers contain a fluid channel in the center, which can be activated by a fluidic system. This system controls the fibers' geometry by pressurizing and releasing a fluid medium, such as compressed air or water, into the channel, allowing the fiber to act as an artificial muscle. The fibers also contain stretchable sensors that can detect and measure the degree of stretching of the fibers. The resulting composite fibers are thin and flexible enough to be sewn, woven, or knitted using standard commercial machines. The fibers [are] dubbed OmniFibers [...].
The new fiber architecture has a number of key features. Its extremely narrow size and use of inexpensive material make it relatively easy to structure the fibers into a variety of fabric forms. It's also compatible with human skin, since its outer layer is based on a material similar to common polyester. And, its fast response time and the strength and variety of the forces it can impart allow for a rapid feedback system for training or remote communications using haptics (based on the sense of touch). As an initial test application of the material, the team made a type of undergarment that singers can wear to monitor and play back the movement of respiratory muscles, to later provide kinesthetic feedback through the same garment to encourage optimal posture and breathing patterns for the desired vocal performance. Though this initial testing is in the context of vocal pedagogy, the same approach could be used to help athletes to learn how best to control their breathing in a given situation, based on monitoring accomplished athletes as they carry out various activities and stimulating the muscle groups that are in action. Eventually, the hope is that such garments could also be used to help patients regain healthy breathing patterns after major surgery or a respiratory disease such as Covid-19, or even as an alternative treatment for sleep apnea.
The new fiber architecture has a number of key features. Its extremely narrow size and use of inexpensive material make it relatively easy to structure the fibers into a variety of fabric forms. It's also compatible with human skin, since its outer layer is based on a material similar to common polyester. And, its fast response time and the strength and variety of the forces it can impart allow for a rapid feedback system for training or remote communications using haptics (based on the sense of touch). As an initial test application of the material, the team made a type of undergarment that singers can wear to monitor and play back the movement of respiratory muscles, to later provide kinesthetic feedback through the same garment to encourage optimal posture and breathing patterns for the desired vocal performance. Though this initial testing is in the context of vocal pedagogy, the same approach could be used to help athletes to learn how best to control their breathing in a given situation, based on monitoring accomplished athletes as they carry out various activities and stimulating the muscle groups that are in action. Eventually, the hope is that such garments could also be used to help patients regain healthy breathing patterns after major surgery or a respiratory disease such as Covid-19, or even as an alternative treatment for sleep apnea.
Bring On Polio 2.0! (Score:2)
We don't need iron lungs anymore! We have funky fibre.
Re: Bring On Polio 2.0! (Score:2)
interesting.
TFA stated that the fabric can vibrate.
I think I will invest in fruit of the loom futures
Re: (Score:2)
Ha!
Forget all that medical stuff (Score:2)
Is it going to make powered armor practical or not? News for nerds, remember?
Re: (Score:3)
That seems unlikely. The power source, rigid, fast, and agile structures are a difficult combination.
Very creative and interesting idea (Score:5, Interesting)
Among other applications, this could potentially be useful in treating a number of medical conditions. Sleep apnoea and infant sudden death syndrome come to mind. Obviously, a great deal of research is going to be needed.
Re: (Score:2)
Sleep apnea already has an effective and cost effective treatment, namely respirators. However, _Parkinson's disease_ might be helped greatly by intelligent clothing to apply quite mild forces to parts of the body.
It's gonna be used for sex toys (Score:3)
faster than you can say, "what do you mean you got your dick caught in it?!"
Re: It's gonna be used for sex toys (Score:2)
Re: It's gonna be used for sex toys (Score:2)
If you've got the money to blow on one of those, it's likely you can get a real woman. I'm sure there's more than one porn millionaire out there, but the market seems kinda...not quite there for there to be very many.
the pinnacle of smart fabrics (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
You're hoping that the new Dune film does stillsuits well: so ami I.
Can You Clean Your Apple Product With It? (Score:2)
I can make you guys a ton of money!!
Dibs! (Score:2)
I claim the first murder scenario where the victim is strangled by a smart breath regulating garment. There is a predecessor in the hangman's noose but that one wasn't smart. .. yeah i know, queue the dozens of stories which already made use of the idea...
Dear wearer (Score:2)
We took over your breathing garment, your password was ridiculous, I mean literally "ridiculous".
Do not try to take off the garment or we will suffocate you!
Do not try to contact the police or we will suffocate you!
Send 10,000 bitcoins behind the big tree in the Park...
similar idea (Score:1)