Clevertex - Grado Zero Espace Srl

Microcombustion 10-50 W/cm 3 Fuel needed
Table 1 Comparison of different energy resources
2.1.4 Applications in the clothing sector
In the segment of intelligent clothing textiles, conductive materials mostly find their application in
wearable electronics. Wearable systems are characterised by their ability to automatically recognise
the activity and the behavioural status of a user as well as of the situation around him, and to use this
information to adjust the systems configuration and functionality.
However, the use of clothing as a platform for electronics offers certain advantages due to the direct
contact and thus the interaction between the wearer and the garment, but also for comfort reasons.
Clothing allows the system to be integrated unobtrusively into the daily life of the wearer, for instance
by hiding electronic components in pockets or seams.
Electronics and electronic functions show different integration stages in textiles, ranging from textileadapted,
textile-integrated and textile-based. Certainly, a great tendency towards textile-based
solution is observable. However, no matter how strongly integrated, the functional components remain
in most cases still non-textile elements, meaning that maintenance, durability, user safety and comfort
are still important problems.
In the future a wearable personal health assistant (PHA), which comprises manifold smart miniaturised
sensors, connected by a wireless or wired body area network to data processing and communication
devices, all devices embedded in the wearer’s daily outfit, may become reality. The PHA continuously
monitors the wearer’s vital signs like hear rate, heart rate variability, temperature and motion activities
and social interaction. With these parameters it is possible to comprehend the physiological state of
the wearer [56, 57].
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