Researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have developed a fiber that can both display images and sense touch, and they have woven 54 of these fibers into a sleeve to create what they say is the world's first touchscreen embedded in clothing. The invention, reported by Chinese automotive news outlet First Electric (D1EV), could pave the way for garments that act as interactive interfaces without any rigid screen.
The sleeve can show images and video, respond to finger touches, and wirelessly connect to other devices, while remaining washable, breathable, and flexible like ordinary clothing. According to the team, this enables a "clothing interface" that lets wearers interact directly with their health data and various digital devices.
From rigid panels to flexible fibers
Conventional screens, such as those on smartphones and laptops, rely on flat, rigid panels to present a graphical user interface (GUI) that both displays information and allows interaction. Textiles woven from one-dimensional fibers have previously been unable to achieve this. Until now, creating a screen that could be woven like yarn while offering full-color display and touch control seemed out of reach.
"We achieved this because we were able to build a graphical user interface system using electronic components in fiber form—these are similar to traditional yarns, but with complex electronic functions integrated directly inside," said Assistant Professor Khudiyev, who led the research.
To create a fiber-based clothing display system, the NUS team developed a programmable connection method: they create connection points at precise locations on tiny insulated wires where each microchip is needed. Using lasers to treat these locations and precisely controlling surface wettability, they guide molten solder to bond only at the preset connection points. With this technique, the team successfully integrated more than 5,000 chips and established over 20,000 electrical connections.
Implications for wearables and beyond
While the prototype is a sleeve, the technology could be extended to other garments, potentially enabling clothing that monitors health metrics, controls smart devices, or provides navigation cues without the need for a separate device. The development is part of a broader trend in wearable technology, though it is still at an early stage and not yet a commercial product.
According to First Electric, the research was conducted at NUS's College of Design and Engineering. The team's work was originally reported by Gasgoo, a Chinese automotive industry news service, and republished by First Electric.
