Imagine a sports shirt that monitors your upper-body form during workouts and provides feedback to improve your technique in real-time.

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A team of researchers at Cornell University in the US have been working on a project “SeamPose” to do just that using AI and deep learning combined with unobtrusive sensors embedded in the seams of garments to estimate and track movements from garments. This has a number of exciting real-world applications for sportswear and fashion brands.

Let’s have a look at what this is, how it’s different to currently available smart garments and the applications of the technology. 

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The researchers at Cornell have come up with a way to embed sensors as threads in the seams of upper body garments. These sensors are machine sewn into the seams throughout the garment. They are then combined with a microchip processor at the base of the neck on the back of the T shirt which relays data via Bluetooth for real-time transmission and connectivity. 

This "invisible" integration is unique and enables more natural movement without the wearer feeling bulky sensors, which can sometimes be a distraction in other smart clothing. This approach makes SeamPose garments feel like regular clothing, enhancing wearability and comfort, especially for prolonged use in everyday activities, fitness, or sports. So, what do these sensors do? 

"SeamPose: Repurposing Seams as Capacitive Sensors in a Shirt for Upper-Body Pose Tracking". Authors: Tianhong Catherine Yu, Manru Mary Zhang, Peter He, Chi-Jung Lee, Cassidy Cheesman, Saif Mahmud, Ruidong Zhang, Francois Guimbretiere, Cheng Zhang.  UIST '24: Proceedings of the 37th Annual ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology Article No.: 72.  

While other smart garments may focus on overall movement or specific biometrics like heart rate and respiration, SeamPose targets upper-body poses specifically (see above video). This allows for refined tracking of shoulder, arm, and torso movements, making it highly specialised for posture correction, upper-body training, and sports performance. SeemPose uses AI and large volumes of data to train its estimation and tracking enabling accessibility and accuracy. 

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What’s exciting about this are the applications.

Let’s look at sports performance tracking.  Whether users are lifting weights, practicing yoga, or running, smart clothing with this technology could guide them to optimal postures and movements. For clothing brands, this opens doors to offer not just apparel, but also a “personal trainer in a garment.”

Physical therapists often work with patients to improve movement and reduce pain, yet they face challenges in monitoring and tracking progress outside of therapy sessions. Rehabilitation patients could wear this smart clothing that tracks their prescribed movements and provides therapists with critical feedback on their posture and progress, allowing for better remote care and adjustments in real-time.

In sports where form is crucial, such as tennis, golf, or swimming, these smart garments could monitor posture to maximize performance and prevent injuries. By analyzing muscle fatigue, strain, and motion, brands could offer clothing that helps athletes perform better while reducing their risk of injury. All powered with real personalised data and insights. 

Brands can also gain insights into how their clothing is used in real-world conditions. This data can guide future product development, identifying popular movements, high-stress areas, or common posture issues, ultimately informing improvements to garment instruction to improve its durability and sustainability - even allowing for personalized garment recommendations.

This technology is not without challenges. The solution requires a processor and the inclusion of these sensors in seams will require investment and adaptations in manufacturing. Data, privacy and security will also be important to re-assure and empower users with their own data and insights. 

However…by embedding sensors directly within the seams of a garment, this approach eliminates the need for the bulky hardware or uncomfortable attachments that are common today. 

And as a result, it has the potential to create a wearable that feels—and looks—just like a regular piece of clothing.

That’s what's so exciting.

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PS. When you are ready to dive into more readily available AI-powered fashion tech, please do check out our Virtual Fitting Room and reach out for a chat.