"It's an interesting idea to be able to go from a yes or no
perspective to something that is more rich in nuances," said Diana
Marculescu, an associate professor of electrical and computer
engineering at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Marculescu thinks such technology could be extended to assisted living situations involving elderly people.
In addition to tracking a person's vital signs, such sensors could monitor the person's mood. Are they feeling depressed? Lonely?
But for sensors to be effective, they need power. Batteries are still fairly heavy compared to the energy that they provide, and their bulk can detract from the aesthetics of a garment.
"There is a fine line between wearing something that is inconspicuous and something that makes you look like a cyborg," said Marculescu.
According to van Heerden, technical challenges such as power supply for the garment have been addressed, but he said it was too early in the project's research to talk about the specific solutions.
