5. E-textiles¶
Research¶
Research
E-textiles, or electronic textiles, seamlessly integrate technology with fabrics to create interactive and functional garments or artworks.
By embedding conductive threads, sensors, LEDs, and microcontrollers into textiles, e-textiles can respond to environmental changes, user input, or biometric data. This emerging field combines traditional craftsmanship with modern technology, enabling new possibilities in fashion, art, and even health monitoring. E-textile artworks often explore themes of interactivity, personal expression, and sustainability, pushing the boundaries of both art and technology. As this field grows, it continues to influence industries such as wearable technology, smart fabrics, and responsive design.
References & Inspiration¶
The Solar Wind Coat" by Pauline van Dongen
Pauline van Dongen, a Dutch fashion designer, has produced new clothes with integrated solar panels, including a jacket that can charge phones and GPS gadgets.
Three flexible solar panels are integrated into the front of the jacket, allowing guides to continue wearing backpacks, while an internal power bank stores enough energy to charge a phone within two hours. Wearers can, when feasible, charge gadgets wirelessly with the use of an inductive charging system.
Blue LOOP Originals provided the recycled denim yarn used to make the water-resistant jacket, which also features a hood that can be hidden under a zipped collar.
Climate Dress
The Climate Dress is constructed of conductive embroidery, an Arduino Lilypad microprocessor, a CO2 sensor, and hundreds of small LED lights embedded into the needlework. The LEDs, which are driven by the stitching, show the amount of CO2 in the immediate environment.
The climate dress is an interactive clothing that reacts to CO2 variations in its surroundings. With the help of more than 100 LEDs, the garment detects the amount of CO2 in the air and uses that information to generate a variety of light patterns, from quick, frantic bursts to gradual, constant pulsations. A statement that adds to the continuing discussion about environmental issues is the Climate Dress, which does so by using an aesthetically pleasing depiction of environmental statistics.
Tools¶
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LEDs (Light-Emitting Diodes): Tiny, energy-efficient lights that can be sewn into fabric to create visual effects or illuminate specific parts of the textile.
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Resistors: Components used to control the flow of current to LEDs or other parts of the circuit, ensuring that the electronics function safely without overheating or drawing too much power.
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Conductive Thread: Specialized thread made with metallic fibers, allowing it to conduct electricity. It is used to create flexible circuits by stitching it into the fabric, connecting components like LEDs, resistors, and sensors.
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Microcontrollers: Small programmable chips (like Arduino or LilyPad) that serve as the "brains" of the e-textile, allowing for control over lights, sensors, or motors based on input or programmed behavior.
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Sensors: These can include touch sensors, temperature sensors, or heart rate monitors, which detect physical changes in the environment or the body and trigger responses from the e-textile, such as lighting up or vibrating.
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Velostat: Is a conductive, pressure-sensitive material commonly used in e-textile projects. It is a flexible, thin plastic sheet that changes its electrical resistance when pressure or force is applied. This property makes it ideal for creating touch-sensitive or pressure-sensitive areas in textiles.
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Copper tape: Is a widely used material in e-textiles and electronics due to its excellent conductivity and flexibility. It consists of thin copper foil with an adhesive backing, which can be applied to fabrics or other surfaces to create conductive pathways. Here’s how copper tape is typically used in e-textile projects:
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Breadboard: Is a tool commonly used in electronics prototyping, including e-textiles, to test circuits without the need for soldering. It consists of a grid of holes that allow components like resistors, LEDs, and microcontrollers to be inserted and connected using conductive strips underneath.
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Arduino boards: Are microcontroller platforms that are widely used in e-textiles to control various electronic components like LEDs, sensors, motors, and more. They are especially popular for their ease of use, affordability, and flexibility in programming. In e-textile projects, Arduino boards serve as the "brains" that manage and process data, triggering actions based on user input or environmental conditions.
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The Flora board: is a wearable electronics platform developed by Adafruit specifically for e-textiles and wearables. It’s compact, easy to use, and designed to work seamlessly with conductive materials like conductive thread, making it ideal for integrating into clothing, accessories, or fabric-based projects.
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Multimeter is a versatile electronic measuring instrument used in e-textiles and electronics for testing and troubleshooting various electrical parameters. It can measure voltage (both AC and DC), current, and resistance, making it essential for ensuring that circuits are functioning correctly.
Process and workflow¶
At first, I tried to understand the basics of electronics because I did not have any prior experience. I learned about essential components like resistors, and I discovered how they worked in circuits.
I also learned about series and parallel connections, which were fundamental concepts in electronics. I discovered that in a series circuit, all components were connected end-to-end, and the same current flowed through each one.
Then, I tried a simple circuit with an LED, Velostat, and a 3V battery. I connected the LED in line with the Velostat and the battery, creating a basic setup to explore how pressure could affect the circuit.
Then, I prepared the fabric using laser cutting for my final project. I carefully designed the patterns and shapes I wanted to incorporate, ensuring they aligned with my artistic vision.
Next, I attempted to use Arduino and Adafruit Flora, connecting them to my project and testing them on a computer using an Arduino Uno. My comprehension of the circuit's workings and how to code for its many components has improved as a result of this experience. I gained knowledge of the various programming commands and how to upload my sketches to the board, which enabled me to start working on my project right away. This practical experience improved my grasp of coding and gave me insightful knowledge on how to successfully incorporate electronics into my textile designs.
Then, I tried connecting the Flora board with NeoPixels. I set up the wiring carefully, ensuring the data line was connected properly to the Flora and that the power source was sufficient for the LEDs. Once everything was in place, I wrote a simple code to control the NeoPixels, experimenting with different colors and patterns. Seeing the NeoPixels light up and respond to my commands was incredibly rewarding, as it showcased the potential for creating dynamic and interactive elements in my e-textile projects. This experience further solidified my understanding of how to integrate various components and manipulate them through coding.
Code Example for External NeoPixels¶
#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>
// Define the number of NeoPixels
#define NUM_PIXELS 1
// Define the pin where the NeoPixel is connected
#define PIXEL_PIN 6
// Initialize the Adafruit_NeoPixel strip
Adafruit_NeoPixel strip = Adafruit_NeoPixel(NUM_PIXELS, PIXEL_PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);
void setup() {
// Begin using the strip
strip.begin();
// Ensure the strip shows nothing
strip.show();
}
void loop() {
// Set the first pixel to red, adjust brightness to 50%
strip.setPixelColor(0, strip.Color(255, 0, 0));
strip.setBrightness(127);
// Update the strip to show the colors
strip.show();
// Wait for 500 milliseconds
delay(500);
// Set the pixel to green
strip.setPixelColor(0, strip.Color(0, 255, 0));
// Update to show the new color
strip.show();
// Wait for 500 milliseconds
delay(500);
// Set the pixel to blue
strip.setPixelColor(0, strip.Color(0, 0, 255));
// Update to show the new color
strip.show();
// Wait for 500 milliseconds
delay(500);
}
Results¶
{ width=500 }