A new era of wearables: Embedding advanced technology into our lives

Wearable electronics have great potential to create better health and wellbeing for the many through the application of new technologies. However, rigid electronics still dominate the wearables sector, making them unsuitable for daily use. Truly wearable devices need to match the elasticity of the skin, show breathability, comfort and be easy to clean. What if we could develop breathable, washable, energy-harnessing and biocompatible electronics that meet these criteria? Dr Felice Torrisi’s research aims to develop a new class of washable, breathable and skin-compatible electronic components based on natural fibres such as cotton and cellulose. These materials are engineered by using techniques from nanomaterials, 2D materials and organic electronics, creating new platforms for intuitive sensing. These novel textiles have applications in broad areas such as healthcare, wellbeing, IoT, lighting and sensing. However, these technologies are also migrating into our bodies. What might be next?