Heated textile using screen-printing
Wearable devices are a promising technology for collecting and analyzing physiological and environmental data for various applications, including healthcare, sports and fitness, and occupational health and safety. In some settings, these wearable devices can also be integrated with actuation capabilities to interact with users.
The proposed research project focuses on applying wearable technologies to thermal comfort and regulation. This will be achieved through the design of heating gloves for Canadian workers in extreme cold environments, such as construction and mining. While protective gloves are essential in these environments, their bulkiness can be a drawback. They can limit dexterity and require a stronger grip, potentially contributing to carpal tunnel syndrome. Additionally, vibrations can exacerbate vibration-induced white finger, especially when hands are cold. By generating sufficient warmth, the gloves can be thinner, reducing the needed gripping force while still providing thermal comfort and regulation. The project will focus on designing and printing the heating element using screen-printed silver-based inks on textiles. A flexible PCB, developed in a concurrent research project, will control the heating element.
This research will contribute to the growing field of wearable and printed textile electronics and their application to occupational health and safety.
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