Page 92 - Grasp English C1+ (Student Book)

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Science E-textiles

E-textiles in their simplest form are nothing new and Aesthetic e-textiles, on the other hand, are those
have been around since the 19 century. Even back which include light or sound for entertainment
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in the late 1800s, you could find light-up evening value. Many of these garments use embedded
wear, worn for its aesthetic quality to provide electronics, meaning that the electronic equipment
entertainment at wealthy people’s soirees. In the is separate from the fabric itself. However, scientists
1960s, as man started to travel into space, e-textiles are also investigating integrating electronics into
again came into the public eye as scientists worked the fabric, though one of the key constraints to
tirelessly to produce garments with the necessary this is that the fabric must still be washable, so any
monitoring equipment. Nowadays, e-textiles are components would need to be insulated.
commonly divided into two groups: aesthetic and
performance-enhancing. As technology develops, we are likely to see more
third-generation e-textiles, in which the garment, with
Performance-enhancing e-textiles are increasingly integrated technology, is the sensor, allowing it to be
being used in sports and the military and include used for any number of uses, such as following the
features such as heat and heart rate monitors. movement of soldiers in combat, tracking the vital
However, they are also being used by doctors to signs of scientists handling radioactive materials or
produce innovative drug-releasing textiles and measuring the level of comfort for amputees with
the cosmetics industry to produce fabrics with new artificial limbs.
anti-ageing properties.

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