Posted June 6, 2016

 

By Seshadri Ramkumar

 

LUBBOCK, Texas – Scientists from UC Berkeley and Google have utilized fabrics made using color-changing smart threads to develop computer screens.

 

According to researchers from the School of Information at the University of California, Berkeley, fabric-based, computer-display technology called Ebb was developed in partnership with researchers from Google. The project was termed Ebb because the color changes patterned the ebb and flow of tides.

 

Ebb technology consists of conductive yarns with thermochromic paint coating. With the passage of electricity, due to heat generated, threads change their color.

The research team conducted focus sessions with a group of people that included fashion designers. The feel of the fabric and not being plastic appealed to the group, who were involved in providing feedback about the smart fabric computer display screens.

 

The research team was led by graduate student Laura Devendorf and involved researchers from UC Berkeley’s School of Information and Google’s Advanced Technology and Projects’ (ATAP) Project Jacquard. Project Jacquard focuses on developing wearable textiles with sensors and LEDS and at the same time giving them the comfortable tactile feeling.

 

Although it may be while to see Ebb-based clothes as display screens on computers in stores, the project has shown light on what consumers feel on soft fabric-based computer displays.

 

Project Jacquard is experimenting with number of techniques to create wearable technologies.

 

There is surely a growing interest in research and product development activities in wearable textiles. Developing fabric computer screens is an interesting advancement in the field of smart textiles.

 

Dr. Seshadri Ramkumar, Ph.D, FTA (honorary), is a professor at the Nonwovens & Advanced Materials Laboratory at Texas Tech.