Smart threads for computers in clothing: health tracking

28.03.2025

MIT researchers developed a fibre computer and networked several of them to create a garment that learns to recognize physical activity.

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed an autonomous, programmable computer in the form of an elastic fiber. This is designed to monitor the wearer's state of health and physical activity and alert them to potential health risks in real time.

Unlike monitoring systems known as "wearables", which are located at a single point such as the chest or finger, fabrics and garments have the advantage of coming into contact with large areas of the body close to vital organs.

The researchers integrated four fiber computers into a top and a pair of leggings, with fibers running along each extremity. Each fiber computer contains a series of microdevices, including sensors, a microcontroller, digital memory, Bluetooth modules, optical communication and a battery. These components are all necessary to form a computer and are contained within a single elastic fiber. Each of the independently programmable fiber computers runs a machine learning model that is trained to independently recognize the exercises performed by the wearer. This results in an average individual accuracy of around 70 percent, with almost 95% accuracy achieved by communicating with each other.

The use of the fiber computer to understand health conditions and prevent injuries will soon be tested in the field. Members of the U.S. Army and Navy will conduct a month-long winter research mission in the Arctic, covering 1,000 kilometers in average temperatures of -40 degrees Celsius. Dozens of merino mesh shirts with fiber computers will provide real-time information on the health and activity of the participants in this mission, called Musk Ox II.

More information can be found here: Fiber computer allows apparel to run apps and "understand" the wearer | MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology