Can you believe this that a fabric youare wearing can monitor yourhealths, guard you in case of any danger, measure the chemical mixture of yourbody fluids and do many more such things. But of course it is possible intoday's world of technology. Here we are taking about none other than theelectronic textile, which is the commendable inventionin the category of smart textile. E textile is used in numerous industries andpurposes that are useful not only for human beings but for the entire livingbeings on the Earth.

Electronic textiles or more often called e textiles are the textiles that haveelectronics and interconnections. These electronics are woven into the fabricto make e textile wearable. With advancement in this sector you can get fromvery simple computing devices to large and complex sensing and protectivetextiles.

Definition of Electronic Textile by E-TextileResearch Group

Electronic textiles (e-textiles) arefabrics that have electronics and interconnections woven into them, withphysical flexibility and size that cannot be achieved with existing electronicmanufacturing techniques. Components and interconnections are intrinsic to thefabric and thus are less visible and not susceptible to becoming tangledtogether or snagged by the surroundings. An e-textile can be worn in everydaysituations where currently available wearable computers would hinder the user.E-textiles can also more easily adapt to changes in the computational andsensing requirements of an application, a useful feature for power management andcontext awareness.

Advancements in Electronic Textiles

Scientist have developed the wireless keyboard fabric called ' Eleck Tex' a form of e textile. This is the patentedaccomplishment of Eleksen. This electronic textile is just 0.6 mm thick andused in handheld PCs, personal digital assistants andsmart phones. This cloth is light in weight, wearable and washable.

Another efficient e-textile has been developed by Virginia Tech (VT)researchers. This electronic textile can observe your movements that includewalking, running, sitting or standing. The e-textile is called Hokie &sec=article&uinfo=<%=server.URLEncode(2422)%>"target="_new">Suitand has the capability of detecting any change in the direction and speed ofmotion of a person as it has interwoven wires and sensors. To wash this fabricjust remove the sensors and wash it with wires. The data collected by sensorscan then be transferred to computers to monitor your health during movements.

Smart Fabrics and Interactive Textiles (SFIT) has a dedicated team and manyprojects related to smart fabrics. These include Biotex (Bio-Sensing Textilesto Support Health Management), PROETEX (Protection e-Textiles:MicroNanostructured fibre systems for Emergency-Disaster Wear), OFSETH (OpticalFibre Sensors Embedded into technical Textile for Healthcare). Under the OFSETHproject the optical fibers are used that can use light both as carrier andsensor. By this the oxygen content of the blood can be measured. This smart fabriccan be wore around the neck.

E-textile has large application in narrow fabric industry.Electronic textile webbings are used extensively to transfer data, power and asinput device. This e textile has been developed by Foster Miller Inc incombination with Chester.

So e-textiles or electronic textiles areindeed a bless as this technologically advanced fabricis used and potential of being used in medical and safety industry.

About the Author:

Author is associated with NarrowFabrics Manufacturers.

Source:www.articlesbase.com