THE METHOD BEHIND THE TECHNOLOGY
WEFT KNITTING
In 1589 William Lee invented the first stocking frame knitting machine. The process was invented 435 years ago to speed up the knitting of men’s stockings. It was so revolutionary at the time that Elizabeth 1 banned the technology and it was first used in France.
Weft knitting is a knitted piece of fabric where the stitches run from left to right horizontally across the fabric. It is usually knitted with one piece of yarn. This definition, although basic sums up what that stocking frame did in 1589.
In 2024 at Footfalls & Heartbeats, we use the same basic process to knit the future. Using the stitches below in a myriad of combinations we are able to control the electrical resistance of any piece of knitted fabric. From that point on we are able to measure almost anything that moves (usually human). We measure the movement of your graceful running in the park, to your less graceful sleeping after the run to your respiration (breathing) during all activities.
KNIT - TUCK - MISS
Just so you understand the ubiquity of the knitted stitch, our sensors can be placed invisibly into the following, shoes, socks, leggings, shorts, base layer compression, seats (leisure, car and office), sofas, beds, carpets, steering wheels, car upholstery, heavy machinery, boats, sails, wind turbine blades, F1 cars, America’s Cup yachts and spacesuits to name but a few.
Awesome really, that a process invented 435 years ago is used today to enhance the health and wellbeing of all humanity (our dream).
In this short video you see the process that our brilliant knitters use to make sensors that will soon change the world of sleep science/quality and respiration monitoring. Footfalls & Heartbeats knits textiles where “the textile is the sensor”.
Visit the website, ask for a demo or just marvel at the way such a simple craft will soon provide the data to revolutionise healthcare in the 21st century. ML and AI require data to proactively help society. The sensors you see here collect data, invisibly and privately for 99% of the world’s population, 99% of their time alive on this planet.
Combining the ordinary with the extraordinary.
Cool eh!
If you want to learn more about our technology, work with this very talented team or suggest a collaboration click below!
