Pressure sensing fabrics that alert wheelchair users to posture issues have been developed by Italian textile manufacturer Inntex.
The sensing seat covers could be used to warn paralysed or otherwise impaired wheelchair users, who may not notice when their posture changes.
Riccardo Marchesi, managing director at Inntex, comments: 'The main purpose is to alert people who don't always have an awareness of their posture.
'If their arm falls from an armrest, or if their trunk falls forward and they don't realise, a gentle alarm goes off - not too loud, but enough for the person to realise what has happened.'
Prototype
A prototype of the technology, designed by student Daniela Gargiulo, will appear at the Smart Textiles Salon, which takes place on 21 April in Ghent, Belgium.
The Smart Textiles Salon is part of a smart textiles event organised by European-funded smart fabrics organisation Systex, taking place on 18-21 April. The Smart Textiles Salon brings together developers of smart textile technology in a showcase of the latest innovations.
Pianeta Elisa, an Italian resort designed specifically for disabled people, originally requested the wheelchair covers, which has been tested on a wheelchair user over the past month.
The sensing covers will be trialled further during 2011. Inntex is also working on adapting the technology as a leg sensor as well.
Partners
Although Inntex has manufacturing capacity to meet initial commercial demand - having diversified from its early knitting production business - the company is also looking for partners to work on other applications in wellbeing, says Marchesi.
He adds: 'We'd like to find a partner that is willing to explore this new field. Very little has been done with these technologies, and there are many people who require a lot of help in rehabilitation, or everyday life.'
Inntex is already selling textile sensors via the Plugandwear website.
Marchesi notes: 'We already supply sensors to NASA, racing car teams and US sports teams, as well as a number of private companies and R&D agencies.'
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Inntex
The Italian knitting firm is diversifying into smart textiles
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Smart Textiles Salon 2011
The Systex event for the latest innovations in smart textiles and wearable electronics takes place on 21 April in Ghent, Belgium
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Smart textile clothes developed for paraplegic patients
Electronic textiles employing plastic electronic fibres could be used in the underwear and socks of paraplegic patients in Swiss hospitals. The ETH Wearable Computing Lab is working on the devices as part of the TecInTex project
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Smart garments assist seniors in advanced robotics project
Special sensory garments have been developed to support elderly wearers in their desire to live independently
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