Smart threads that change colour instantly

Ever left the house and immediately regretted your choice of pastel shirt? Well, a new colour-changing thread developed by researchers in the US could soon make that feeling a thing of the past —and could also open up the possibility of using our garments as tactile displays we wear on our bodies.

Not only could you switch from a black t-shirt to a green one, you could also change the logo on your top. We’re still a long way from that, but this new technology, called Ebb, is showing plenty of promise, and could eventually lead to brand new types of smart clothing.

The colour-shifting threads change their hues in response to electrical charges. It’s being developed as part of Google’s Project Jacquard — one of the company’s spin-off endeavours that’s looking into the potential of making our clothing touch-sensitive and interactive.

Right now, it takes a while to change colours, so any kind of fast, responsive display is out of the question for the time being.

As Gizmodo reports, the researchers behind Ebb want to eventually make the fabric as quick to refresh as e-ink, so you could glance down at the cuffs of your shirt to see if you’ve got any missed calls or messages.

And then there’s the possibility of clothes that change colour depending on what kind of mood you’re in.
Source: www.sciencealert.com