Too Smart to Ever Need a Doc
By: Anthony Wilson and Danielle Stubbs
Issue date: 4/18/05 Section: Student Life
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With the recent release of the "Smart Shirt," owners can skip their visit to the doctors and have their T-Shirt monitor their heart rate, EKG, temperature, and other important vital signs. The "Smart Shirt" can then transmit this data to a doctor or tell the wearer of any abnormalities in their vital signs.
As the latest invention on the garment market, "Smart Shirts" come in the form of nanotechnology, which is regarded by manufacturers as "the most innovative development to happen in the clothing industry over the past 50 years."
The "Smart Shirt" is made of special lightweight fabrics and has ultra thin fiber optics and sensors. This new technology in the garment industry was first explored in 1996 by Georgia Tech on a grant from the Department of Defense (DOD) to examine ways to monitor and track soldiers on the battlefield.
The DOD specified that the shirts had to be "durable, reliable, unobtrusive, inexpensive and provide mobility for its soldiers." Today Georgia Tech is still researching the revolutionary clothing in a joint venture with a company called Sensatex.
Jason Carey, a graduating senior majoring in biology, said, "In terms of health care, I think it's really beneficial."
Sensatex hopes to eventually market the clothing to the elderly, hospitals and doctors, as it provides a hassle free means for doctors and hospitals to monitor their patients, new born babies and other at risk individuals for various types of health problems.
In the Docker's commercial where a man spills wine on his pants and the liquid beads up and rolls right off his leg and the pants that will not wrinkle is all thanks to nanotechnology.
The leading supplier of nanotech treatments for major companies like Docker's is Nano-Tex. They also supply nanomachines for such big name clothing companies as Perry Ellis, GAP, Old Navy, Champion, Nike, L.L.Bean, and Eddie Bauer.
Soon people around the world can look forward to clothes that never stain or wrinkle. Just think if these "Smart Shirts" catch on, college students can dig into that pile of clothes in the corner of their room to pull out a wrinkle free shirt to wear to school or at the club on the weekend.
According to manufacturers, owners can also use their shirts to track their friends using GPS and can get a physical without going to the doctor. However, some students are skeptical.
When fashion student Benicia Williams saw the clothes she said, "They look itchy."
Despite the opinions of those who won't go for it, thousands are now walking around wearing garment-based machines.
It may sound like something from the Matrix or a science fiction anecdote, but "Smart Shirts" are definitely on the scene. For details on "Smart Shirts," visit www.impressionsmag.com
