Colour spread: light, thermochromics and conventional pigments

With the colour change materials that react to heat stimulus – thermochromics – the possibilities of mixture solutions with conventional pigments emphasizes a re-thinking of colour as dynamic design material. In this work, smart materials are applied in order to achieve textiles that can change from one initial colour to others, namely, those that have been combined to create them. The aim is to transform the light that goes through them, designing dynamic ambience light, without acting upon the light source. Thermochromics and conventional pigments have been combined through different colours and measured in intensity and colour of the light parameters. The smart materials applied to textile fabrics changes the light transmitted, once the pigments require light to be absorbed to obtain colour. The results reveal that thermochromics and conventional pigments can be combined and applied in textile filters, providing the ability to transform the monochromatic light to colour, in order to create dynamic ambience light

Towards the internet of smart clothing: a review on IoT wearables and garments for creating intelligent connected e-textiles

[Abstract] Technology has become ubiquitous, it is all around us and is becoming part of us. Togetherwith the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) paradigm and enabling technologies (e.g., Augmented Reality (AR), Cyber-Physical Systems, Artificial Intelligence (AI), blockchain or edge computing), smart wearables and IoT-based garments can potentially have a lot of influence by harmonizing functionality and the delight created by fashion. Thus, smart clothes look for a balance among fashion, engineering, interaction, user experience, cybersecurity, design and science to reinvent technologies that can anticipate needs and desires. Nowadays, the rapid convergence of textile and electronics is enabling the seamless and massive integration of sensors into textiles and the development of conductive yarn. The potential of smart fabrics, which can communicate with smartphones to process biometric information such as heart rate, temperature, breathing, stress, movement, acceleration, or even hormone levels, promises a new era for retail. This article reviews the main requirements for developing smart IoT-enabled garments and shows smart clothing potential impact on business models in the medium-term. Specifically, a global IoT architecture is proposed, the main types and components of smart IoT wearables and garments are presented, their main requirements are analyzed and some of the most recent smart clothing applications are studied. In this way, this article reviews the past and present of smart garments in order to provide guidelines for the future developers of a network where garments will be connected like other IoT objects: the Internet of Smart Clothing.Xunta de Galicia; ED431C 2016-045Xunta de Galicia; ED341D R2016/012Xunta de Galicia; ED431G/01Agencia Estatal de Investigación de España; TEC2013-47141-C4-1-RAgencia Estatal de Investigación de España; TEC2016-75067-C4-1-RAgencia Estatal de Investigación de España; TEC2015-69648-RED

Designing for a start; irreversible dynamic textile patterns

Textiles are traditionally designed to keep a given expression; a floral pattern is supposed to stay floral. However, contemporary technology and material development is changing both production and expression and requires rethinking in production and the design practice to meet the future of textiles.  Through experimental, practiced based design research this project focus on the notion of change as a central design variable. The textile colours are crafted from plant dye to evolve over time.  The objective of this project is to show an alternative dimension towards sustainability through changeability built into an expression. Instead of replacing an object when we need/want another color, function or expression, the changing expression could be integrated in the materiality and design itself. Creating a design that appears and develops over time, with a starting point, but without an end. Los textiles son tradicionalmente diseñados para mantener una expresión dada. Un patrón floral se supone que debe permanecer floral. Sin embargo, la tecnología contemporánea y el desarrollo de materiales están cambiando tanto la producción como la expresión, y requiere un replanteamiento de la producción y la práctica del diseño para satisfacer el futuro de los textiles. A través de la experimentación, investigación de diseño basada en la práctica, este proyecto se centra en la noción de cambio como una variable central de diseño. Los colores textiles que se elaboraban a partir de tintas vegetales, han evolucionado con el tiempo.  El objetivo de este proyecto es mostrar una dimensión alternativa hacia la sostenibilidad a través del cambio incorporado en una expresión. En lugar de reemplazar un objeto cuando necesitamos/deseamos otro color, función o apariencia, la expresión cambiante podría integrarse en la materialidad y en el diseño mismo; creando un diseño que aparece y se desarrolla con el tiempo, con un punto de partida, pero sin fin.Os têxteis são tradicionalmente concebidos para manter uma determinada expressão. Um padrão floral deve permanecer floral. No entanto, a tecnologia contemporâ- nea e desenvolvimento de materiais estão mudando tanto a produção e expressão, e exige um repensar da produção e design prático para atender o futuro dos têxteis.  Através da experimentação, pesquisa em design baseada na prática, este projeto centra-se na noção de mudança como uma variável de projeto central. As cores têxteis que foram produzidas a partir de tintas vegetais evoluíram ao longo do tempo.  O objetivo do presente projeto é mostrar uma dimensão alternativa para a sustentabilidade através da mudança incorporada numa expressão. Em vez de substituir um objeto quando precisamos / quer outra cor, função ou aparência, a expressão dinâmica poderia ser integrada no material e no design mesmo; a criação de um projeto que surge e se desenvolve ao longo do tempo, com um ponto de partida, mas não tem fim

Exploring geometric morphology in shape memory textiles: design of dynamic light filters

Thermo-responsive Shape Memory Alloys are able to adopt a temporary configuration and return to their programmed shape when heated to a determined activation temperature. The possibility to integrate them in textile substrates creates potential to develop smart textiles whose shape change explores functional and expressive purposes. The aim of this research is to develop shape memory woven textiles in which dynamic behavior achieves predefined geometric shapes. The requirement of geometric morphology was addressed through origami techniques. Combining foldability properties with shape change, it is possible to design textile structures with a variable number of layers. Difference in light transmittance is analyzed according to layer variation. Experiments conducted explore methodological processes aimed at future developments in dynamic light filters research. The results highlight a process to design textiles with predefined geometric morphologies that can be activated electrically, and delineate a further study in order to improve the shape memory textile behavior.This work was supported by FEDER funds through the Operational Programme for Competitiveness Factors – COMPETE and National Funds through FCT – Foundation for Science and Technology (project SFRH/ BD/87196/2012) and FCT and FEDER-COMPETE (project PEst-C/CTM/UI0264/2011)