MIT's Smart Fabric: 95% Accurate Health Monitoring

Rahul Somvanshi

MIT scientists have created a fiber computer that transforms ordinary clothes into smart health monitors that track activity and vital signs.

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Unlike smartwatches that sit on your wrist, these fiber computers spread throughout clothing to collect more complete health data from your body.

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Each tiny fiber packs sensors, memory, Bluetooth, and a battery into a stretchy thread that's washable and barely noticeable when worn.

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When four fiber computers work together in a single outfit, they can identify exercises with 95% accuracy, up from 70% when working alone.

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U.S. military members will test these smart clothes during a month-long Arctic mission in -40°F temperatures to prevent cold-related injuries.

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The special fibers can stretch more than 60% without damaging the electronics inside, making them practical for everyday clothing.

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Scientists spent over a decade developing this technology, which could eventually allow regular clothes to run health apps and provide safety alerts.

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"Our bodies broadcast gigabytes of data through the skin every second," says MIT professor Yoel Fink, who led the research published in Nature.

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