MIT researchers have created a groundbreaking wearable fiber computer designed to monitor health and physical activity in real time. This flexible, elastic fiber can alert users to potential health risks by tracking vital signs and activity levels. The fiber is discreet, machine-washable, and offers comfort for daily wear, seamlessly integrating into fabrics.
Unlike traditional wearables that focus on specific body parts like the wrist or chest, the fiber computer is embedded in fabric, covering larger areas of the body and allowing for more comprehensive health monitoring. The fibers, which are nearly invisible, have sensors and other devices embedded inside them to track important health data.
The fiber computer is made up of several key components: sensors, a microcontroller, digital memory, Bluetooth modules, optical communications, and a battery, all housed in a single, elastic fiber. Researchers attached these fibers to a top and leggings, with the fibers running along the limbs. In testing, the fiber computers autonomously identified exercises performed by the wearer, achieving an impressive 70% accuracy rate. When the fibers communicated with each other, the accuracy rose to nearly 95%.
Yoel Fink, a professor at MIT, explained that the human body continuously emits large amounts of data through heat, light, and electrical signals. “Most of this data is lost in the clothes we wear. What if we could teach our clothes to capture and analyze it to provide valuable health insights?” Fink said.
The real-world application of the fiber computer will soon undergo a major test. U.S. Army and Navy members will wear base layer shirts containing the fiber computers during an Arctic mission, where they will cover 1,000 kilometers in extreme temperatures of -40°F. The fiber computers will provide real-time health data throughout the mission.
“These fiber computers could eventually run apps and provide health services through everyday clothing,” Fink said. “We’re excited to test this technology with our military partners in one of the harshest environments on Earth.”
The project, a result of over a decade of research at MIT’s Fibers@MIT lab, represents a significant leap forward in wearable technology. The researchers overcame challenges in connecting complex microdevices to the fibers, creating a design that allows for flexible, high-functioning, and machine-washable technology.
With this new approach, the fiber computer is made from a thermoplastic elastomer, which is more flexible than previous materials. It can stretch over 60% without breaking, ensuring durability and ease of use in everyday clothing.
This innovative work, which also includes support from various U.S. defense and research agencies, promises a future where health monitoring is seamlessly integrated into clothing, potentially changing the way we approach personal well-being.
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