Researchers at the University of Washington have created a magnetic fabric that resists washing and that applied to clothes can make payments
In science fiction movies, and in some cases even in reality, we have seen microchips implanted in human skin and used for payments or as access tools. In the future, thanks to magnetic fabrics we will be able to perform all these operations, and more, in a less invasive way.
A research team at the University of Washington has created a special fabric that can be attached to our jackets, shirts or shirts and that we can use to open doors, make payments and unlock electronic objects. In the past, the same material had already been used on some wearables for health, in particular on small bracelets used by some private clinics in the United States. Now the fabric has been magnetized to store digital data, a bit like what happens on a computer hard drive. Codes can be written on the conductive fabric thanks to magnets.
Portable and wash resistant
Because it is a simple fabric, we won’t have to buy so many wearables to apply to each of our garments. We’ll just apply the tiny material to our clothing and that’s it. And according to researchers, the conductive fabric does not spoil if put in the washing machine. An aspect that makes it unique compared to other payment wearables already tested in the past. The material used by the University of Washington researchers withstands full wash cycles, including spin drying, and dryers. As long as the temperature does not exceed 160 degrees Celsius. This is the maximum limit so as not to damage the magnets that generate the codes on the fabric.
It can be demagnetized
The researchers said that the small wearable should be understood as a microscopic wearable hard drive. In addition to clothes, it can be applied to accessories, such as ties, watches, necklaces or bracelets. The only enemy of this object are other chips and metal objects. Being a magnetic code there is a possibility that it will demagnetize. To avoid this we must take the same precautions that we have with the credit card. That is, let’s keep it away from keys, coins and other objects “dangerous” for magnets.
Smartphone compatible
The fabric can also be used on the smartphone. Through gesture recognition, the fabric can lock the device or authorize a payment. The gesture will be recognized by the phone even if made from the pocket. For the future, the researchers plan to develop new fabrics that can generate a stronger magnetic field, this would allow them to store data at a higher density.