Wearable technology is a growing field in which we bring technology closer and closer to the human to solve problems or take measurements where being next-to-skin is paramount. Whereas today the field of wearable tech is primarily dominated by smart watches and other similar “hard” wearables where encasing the electronics is fairly straightforward, in the not-to-distant future (and in some senses, now) we will see more wearable tech that is embedded seamlessly into the textiles that make up our clothing. However, there are many challenges the field currently faces to make these technologies commercially available, including washability and ensuring that hard-to-soft component connections are robust.

In partnership with the Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA), this course will expose students to how textiles are produced, the state-of-the-art and challenges for textile-based wearable technology, methods in which electrical systems are embedded into textiles, electronic prototyping, and the design process. Students will learn how to make textiles and prototype electronics while also learning how to design and create a wearable item that solves some problem they have identified in their life.

Online Course

Prior to the start of the summer course, students will be required to complete an online pre-course that introduces them to the field of textile-based wearable technology and gives them an idea of the topics the course will cover. This important introductory material will help students determine if they are interested in the topics covered in the course and will also get students up to speed with the initial skills required to complete the course.

Topics covered in the online course will include:

• What is textile-based wearable technology?

• Fields in which we see e-textile solutions

• Overview of various textile design processes

• Overview of the design process

• Introduction to technical skills, including working with Arduino

• Initial brainstorming of student’s final project ideas that will be suitable for the scope of this course

Summer Course

The 4-week summer course will feature a mixture of demonstrations, lectures, prototyping, tours, and working on final projects. Emphasis will be placed on hands-on learning and prototyping. In partnership with AFFOA, students will get exposure to industrial textile machinery including looms and knitting machines, and will also produce their own small-scale textiles on more accessible home-based equipment in order to learn and demonstrate the differences in different types of textiles and when one type would be preferred over another for a desired wearable tech application. Students will learn basic sewing skills that will be required to complete their final wearable projects. Additionally, they will learn basic electronic prototyping and programming and apply these skills towards the creation of  e-textiles by working with the Arduino environment. Through tours to local innovators and labs, students will get to see real examples of innovation currently happening in the broad field of wearable tech for various use cases.

By the end of the course, students will have an understanding of the various fields in which wearable technology emerges, when a textile-based approach to wearable tech should be considered as a solution to a problem (and when it should not be), the challenges currently faced by the field, and areas for innovation in the field. They will walk away from the course with their own functional piece of wearable technology that they have brought through the full design process, from initial ideation through final prototyping, that solves some problem they have identified in their life. From possible examples such as communication devices to athletic activity monitors to light-up clothing, we are excited to see what this new batch of wearable tech innovators develop!

Week 1: Introduction

• Introduction to textile technology and the field of e-textiles

• Why wearables? Case studies on various use cases for wearables

• Introduction to textile and apparel manufacturing skills

Week 2: Skill Development + Ideation

• Introduction to electronic prototyping and Arduino

• Skill development (textile, apparel, and electronics) to prepare students for their final projects

• Final project ideation and reviews

Week 3: Prototyping + Final Project Prep

• Finalize project proposal and begin making

• Practice and prototype sub-components necessary for final projects

• Introductions to additional use cases for textile-based wearable technology

Week 4: Final Projects

• Finishing final projects

• Working on presentations for final projects

• Additional innovation tours to give students a break from their hands-on work