TOKYO: At first glance, the fabric looks like a pretty if not especially original scarf, with turquoise, blue and orange stripes in an open weave. But this fabric can communicate. It´s wearable, foldable and washable, but it´s also a fully functioning display — capable of flashing messages or images, or even being used with a keyboard.
The fabric, described in a study in the journal Nature on Wednesday, is the work of a team led by Huisheng Peng, a professor in the department of macromolecular engineering at Shanghai´s Fudan University. He believes it could revolutionise communication and “help individuals with voice, speech or language difficulties to express themselves to others”. “We hope that woven-fibre materials will shape next-generation electronics by changing the way we interact with electronic devices,” he said. Wearable electronics have advanced significantly in recent years, and clothing incorporating electronic functions including super-thin displays is already available.
Another study published this week, for example, describes a wearable microgrid powered by the sweat of the wearer. But there are limitations to most existing products. They are often made by attaching or weaving thin film light-emitting devices to fabrics, resulting in a material that is not breathable or very flexible. They are also often fragile and prone to damage, and in the past were only able to display pre-determined patterns.
