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LiveScience
LiveScience
Keumars Afifi-Sabet

Scientists cram an entire computer into a single fiber of clothing — and you can even put it through your washing machine

Detailed texture of blue and cream colored furry fabric.

Scientists have incorporated key computing components into a single, flexible fiber that you can run through your washing machine. The researchers hope to one day weave together many of these fibers into a cohesive "fiber computing" network — in other words, items of clothing with smart capabilities.

Smart textiles, also known as smart fabrics or e-textiles, are materials containing electronic components that enhance the features of wearable devices and other products. These could potentially be used to create materials with in-built computing components that can be used in clothing or in woven displays, among other uses.

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