Prof. Xiaoming Tao, Chair Professor of ITC, recently secured approximately HK$5 million under the Midstream Research Programmes for Universities of the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) for a 3-year research project entitled “Key Technologies for Textile Electronic Interaction System”.
Human-computer-environment interaction technology is a recent popular research topic as a result of its applications in smart cities, Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality/augmented reality (VR/AR), and robotics. Interactive textile electronic systems might be suitable platforms because of their excellent wearable performance and unique immersive features such as light in weight, a large-area, handiness, flexibility, comfort, and low strain even under high deformations.
The key to expanding the use of these textiles is to develop new technologies for textile-based interaction systems. Prof. Tao’s project proposes to develop new technologies by demonstrating prototype system products which comprise a modular fabric display of over 16 million colours, audial communication, fabric keyboard, memory card, wireless communication unit and a control unit. In this project, the processing methods for the surface enhancement of flexible fibrous substrates, and fabrication of new double-sided fibrous circuit boards will be investigated. Essential machines and tools will be developed for manufacturing the fabric electronic modules made from electronic yarns, and interconnection between textile electronic modules, as well as determining the processing parameters, quality control methods and procedures. By using the newly developed processes, machines, and tools, Prof. Tao’s team will demonstrate novel electronic textile display products for human-computer-environment interactions in smart homes.
