Posted 09.26.2011 at 12:42 pm
9 Comments
Copper Wires
Flavio@Flickr on Flickr
Here at PopSci, we're greatly looking forward to wearing our technology. There's been a lot of work done on this front, from fireproofing to power generation, and now we can add memory storage to the list of things fabric of the future will be able to do.
Scientists at NASA's Ames Research Center have created a proof-of-concept design for a flexible memory fabric made of platinum and woven copper and copper-oxide wires that form a memory circuit. In tests, this e-textile system was able to store information for more than 100 days, and was completely reversible and rewriteable.
To really become something we'd want to put on in the morning, though, the fabric needs to add a power source, sensors and computing ability. While a full-fledged computing suit may still be far away, the advances in textile tech are mounting, and it's only a matter of time.
[PhysOrg]
9 Comments
To comment, please Login.
Popular Tags
Technology
|
|
|
|
|
|
June 2013: American Energy Independence
Five amazing, clean technologies that will set us free, in this month's energy-focused issue. Also: how to build a better bomb detector, the robotic toys that are raising your children, a human catapult, the world's smallest arcade, and much more.
Popular on Popsci
Most Commented
Technology
- This Newer, Stronger 3-D Printed Gun Costs Just $25
- Autonomous X-47B Jet Fighter Makes Historic First Launch From An Aircraft Carrier
- Russia Is Building Robots To 'Neutralize' Terrorists
- How To Turn An AK-47 Into A Soup Ladle
- America's Road To Energy Independence, Part 1
- Mapping The Simpsons' Slow Descent Into Suckitude
- Iran Unveils Absurd New Stealth Drone
- High School Student Wins Hackathon With A Tool That Blocks TV Spoilers
- 7 Reasons Why 'Star Trek Into Darkness' Is A Beginner's Guide To Star Trek [Spoiler Alert]
- Navy Completes First Flight Of Game-Changing MQ-4C Triton Spy Drone [Video]
Most Emailed
Technology
- The World's Most Expensive Weapon Just Got A Little Cheaper
- Will Google (And The US Government) Permit Google Glass To Recognize Faces On Sight?
- Big Pic: Hubble Space Telescope Captures The Ring Nebula In Astonishing Detail
- Robotic Kite Power Could Turn The Sky Into A Wind Farm
- These 11 Robot Bartenders Will Get You Drunk
- 11 Robot Bartenders That Will Get You Drunk
- Brazilian Government Invests In Robocops To Prep For World Cup, Olympics
- The BBC's New Radio Can Alter Broadcasts Based On Who's Listening
- Social Media Replaces Police Missing Persons Searches In France
- New Water-Repellant Fabric Is Like A Second Skin
Most Viewed
Technology
- The World's Most Expensive Weapon Just Got A Little Cheaper
- Will Google (And The US Government) Permit Google Glass To Recognize Faces On Sight?
- Big Pic: Hubble Space Telescope Captures The Ring Nebula In Astonishing Detail
- Robotic Kite Power Could Turn The Sky Into A Wind Farm
- These 11 Robot Bartenders Will Get You Drunk
- 11 Robot Bartenders That Will Get You Drunk
- Brazilian Government Invests In Robocops To Prep For World Cup, Olympics
- The BBC's New Radio Can Alter Broadcasts Based On Who's Listening
- Social Media Replaces Police Missing Persons Searches In France
- New Water-Repellant Fabric Is Like A Second Skin
Online Content Director: Suzanne LaBarre | Email
Senior Editor: Paul Adams | Email
Associate Editor: Dan Nosowitz | Email
Assistant Editor: Colin Lecher | Email
Assistant Editor: Rose Pastore | Email
Contributing Writers:
Kelsey D. Atherton | Email
Francie Diep | Email
Shaunacy Ferro | Email
Today on PopSci.com
Copyright © 2012 Popular Science
A Bonnier Corporation Company. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
Firsties!
I don't get it why would you want it. You can put a lot of memory on a chip the size of penny, why do you need a suit?
have you not seen that show with jackie chan and he has that suit? DUH!
In the future, wearing this suit and as you meet your friends, should anyone of them give you a good nice hug, you will be able to compute this as a positive effect.
Science truly will actually be able to quantify a nice warm fuzzy hug, awwwww!
Side not to self while wearing suit: “Do not wear suit outside on stormy lighting days.” "BUZZZAP!"
It does seem like a fools errand to create LARGE wearable circuits when in another 10 years the power of today's laptop will probably fit into your wristwatch for a fraction of the cost...
Don't get me wrong, I can easily understand sensors and transmitters embedded in clothing... but those data collection/emission devices should not be tasked with storing and processing the data itself. That will always be done more efficiently with smaller microprocessors.
---
"Do not offer sympathy to the mentally ill.
Tell them firmly:
I am not paid to listen to this drivel.
You are a terminal boob." - William S. Burroughs
TertiusGuy, your prize to be firsties, you win a ball of string. Now go play!
"made of platinum and woven copper"
Oh, so as long as you can afford clothes woven from platinum then this would be a practical device. Otherwise, it's completely useless and moronic.
I can only imagine Lady Gaga has her order in for this suit, when its finally made!
As a lot of people say, I really don't see the usefulness of this, other than that if we can perfect circuitry woven into clothes we could but LCD screens into shirts and have wearable displays, sensors, and the like. I severely doubt that we will ever see a computer made into shirts and pants, and even if we do, wouldn't the severe challenge of washing these clothes kind of out weigh the benefits, when more than likely as someone said, they could be put into your watch, or even better your glasses.
I think this could be useful for early wearable computers, but I do not foresee this becoming mainstream.