SCIENTIFIC SPORTSWEAR
How are designers using the power of technology to optimise our active lifestyles?
Wearable technology is most commonly seen in active wear. Smartwatches and wearable health trackers have become commonplace in the fitness industries to give real-time feedback on aspects such as heart rate, step count and even sleep patterns. There are, however, companies that are taking the demand for more real-time fitness and health information to the next level and integrating devices into fitness fashion. Companies such as Sensoria Fitness and Omsignal have produced lines of functional clothing to continually monitor cardiovascular activity. With an embedded ECG monitor, garment’s can record biometric information such as your heart and respiratory rate. Through Bluetooth connections these garments send the information to an app and AI algorithms process the information to show you real-time results. The algorithms can then offer suggestions during an exercise about your breathing levels and if you’ve exceeded your optimum heart rate. Wearable fitness technology doesn’t solely have to work as a digital doctor but can also act as a coach, potentially removing the need for instructors, such as those in yoga. Wearable X have created yoga leggings that act as your teacher, guiding you through each pose. The Nadi X are a pair of leggings with technology woven into the fabric. Accelerometers and haptic motors can detect your pose and advise you on the best stance. In order to active the fabric, the Pulse module clips to the leggings and records the information from the built-in monitors. Data from the monitors on the hips, knees and ankles is then sent to the companion app and run through algorithms to assess your yoga success.