I will explain in detail what is currently available in Garment-Type Wearable and what is expected to be added in the future. Since Garment-Type Wearable takes the form of clothing, it has the advantage of being in close contact with the body to collect various data and provide convenient functions to users.

Current Functionalities and Product Examples:

• Health Monitoring:

  • Heart Rate Monitoring:
    • Hexoskin: Known for its smart shirts with integrated ECG sensors, providing highly accurate heart rate measurements, including resting heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), and activity-related heart rate changes. Used by professional athletes and research institutions.
    • Polar Team Pro Shirt: Designed for team sports, this shirt integrates sensors to deliver precise heart rate data for performance analysis and team monitoring.
  • Respiration Monitoring:
    • Hexoskin: Also monitors respiratory rate, volume, and patterns, potentially aiding in the early detection of respiratory conditions like sleep apnea.
  • Body Temperature Measurement:
    • OMSignal: Previously offered smart bras with embedded temperature sensors for tracking body temperature fluctuations, useful for menstrual cycle tracking and ovulation prediction. They appear to be defunct now.
    • VitalConnect VitalPatch: A medical-grade wearable patch that adheres to the skin, continuously measuring ECG, heart rate, respiratory rate, and body temperature.
  • Electromyography (EMG):
    • Myontec Mbody Pro: Uses EMG sensors to track muscle activity, helping athletes optimize strength training and rehabilitation by providing real-time data on muscle activation and fatigue.
    • Athos: Employs EMG sensors to analyze exercise form, offering feedback to correct posture and reduce injury risk, particularly beneficial for weight training.

• Fitness Tracking:

  • Activity Tracking:
    • Under Armour Connected Fitness Apparel: Tracks steps, distance, and calories burned, syncing with fitness apps like MapMyRun to manage workout data.
    • Lumo Run: Smart shorts with integrated sensors specifically designed for improving running form by analyzing cadence, stride length, and pelvic rotation to prevent injuries and enhance efficiency.
  • Exercise Form Analysis: As mentioned above, Athos is a prime example of a product focused on exercise form analysis using EMG.

• Biosignal Detection:

  • While commercially available products are limited, ongoing research explores analyzing sweat components like glucose, sodium, and cortisol to manage fitness and potentially diagnose medical conditions.

• Location Tracking:

  • AngelSense: Offers GPS-enabled wearable devices and clothing for children, providing real-time location tracking for safety purposes.

• Style and Aesthetics:

  • ShiftWear: Developed smart sneakers with e-paper displays, allowing users to customize the shoe’s design. The company appears to have ceased operations.
  • Google Jacquard: Collaborated with brands like Levi’s and Saint Laurent to create smart clothing with touch-sensitive fabric, enabling control of smartphone functions through gestures on the garment.

Future Expected Functionalities and Related Research:

• Disease Diagnosis and Prediction: Research is exploring using smart clothing to measure ECG and employing AI algorithms to detect early signs of conditions like atrial fibrillation.
• Personalized Health Management: Services are expected to emerge that use collected biometric data to provide personalized recommendations for exercise, diet, and sleep management.
• Virtual/Augmented Reality (VR/AR) Integration: Smart clothing could enhance VR cycling workouts by integrating heart rate and muscle activity data into the VR game for a more immersive experience.
• Enhanced Clothing Functionality: Development of smart clothing with features like thermoregulation (heated fabrics for cold weather), waterproofing, and stain resistance is anticipated.
• Emotion Recognition and Communication: Technologies that analyze facial expressions, heart rate, and skin conductance to detect user emotions and provide tailored music recommendations or facilitate communication are being explored.

These examples represent some of the current offerings and future possibilities in the Garment-Type Wearable market. As technology advances, we can expect even more innovative products across various sectors, especially in healthcare, sports, and fashion.