Nottingham Trent University Researchers Prototype Smart Textiles for Healthcare and Assistive Monitoring

Researchers at Nottingham Trent University are prototyping a range of electronic textiles designed to monitor physiological changes, detect accidents, and convey information through touch, according to a report published by TechXplore (https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-smart-textiles-health-safety-people.html). Developed across the university's Advanced Textiles Research Group and the Nottingham School of Art & Design, the projects embed microelectronics directly into familiar garments and household fabrics to assist individuals facing barriers with standard medical devices or accessibility tools.

For deaf individuals, doctoral researcher Malindu Ehelagasthenna developed an electronic textile sleeve that slides over a standard pillow beneath an ordinary pillowcase. The sleeve contains four miniature haptic actuators embedded into yarn-like structures, designed to vibrate without disrupting normal sleep comfort. The system can connect wirelessly to household alarms and phones, using distinct vibration sequences to distinguish between fire alarms, burglar alarms, and incoming telephone calls.

To address physical hazards in older populations, Dr. Theo Hughes-Riley led the development of a smart vest designed to detect early risks of hypothermia. The garment incorporates four miniature thermistors measuring 1 mm by 0.5 mm woven into yarns across the chest and shoulder blades, transmitting continuous thermal readings to mobile devices via Bluetooth. In parallel, doctoral researcher Zahra Rahemtulla created a prototype oversock with a resin-encapsulated ankle motion sensor. In human trials, the sock's motion-tracking algorithm detected active falls with 99.4% accuracy and near-falls, such as slips and trips, with 94.2% accuracy.

In diagnostic monitoring, Professor Yang Wei is collaborating with researchers at the University of Glasgow on electronic textiles designed for bra inserts or dedicated garments to monitor breast tissue changes over time. Targeting women with intellectual disabilities who face disparities in accessing regular screening, the device passes subtle electrical currents through tissue to measure density and fluid variations, aiming to detect anomalies as small as 5 mm to guide follow-up clinical imaging.

The research group is also prototyping haptic gloves that pair artificial intelligence with finger-mounted actuators to translate spoken conversations, navigation prompts, and environmental alerts into tactile vibrations for deafblind users. Additional projects in development include a non-contact wearable respiratory sticker that measured breathing rates within two breaths per minute in testing, as well as breathable wound dressings with printed electronic sensors designed to track healing proteins remotely. The teams are currently conducting durability and washability testing while seeking industrial partners to advance the prototypes toward commercial production.