Knitting-Why?

No matter how much science, technology or innovation is involved, knitting is chosen for a very pragmatic reason. Knitting is a flexible, micromechanical structure which can form over almost any organic shape. Knitting is an amazing craft, developed over thousands of years, that can produce some of the most intricate 3D structures known.

“ A linear bundle of polymers, synthetic or natural, that you manipulate using mechanical and/or digital means to form a 3-dimensional product. Knitting to you or me”

 John Angus, University of Derby

The reason this 3D structure is so versatile is the fact that the knitted loop, stitches to us mere mortals, is able to slip, bend, twist and elongate  and then return to its original shape. This simple but unbelievably complex movement pattern is what makes knitting, weft or warp unique.

Once the interactions of the stitches at the micro scale are understood then the “magic” starts. Due to the movement and its return the knitted structure itself can be used as a sensor to measure humanity and Do Good. This knitted structure interacts with 99% of humanity, 99% of the time.

These simple structures, simple interaction and their application to demystifying movement in all its forms are why knitting is the perfect substrate to gather data to improve the health and wellbeing of humanity.

And finally there is one last reason why knitting needs to be used for sensors in the future. The ability to gather data. Yarns used for knitting can either be filament or staple fibre and as such there are multiple contact points between these fibres and also between the stitches themselves. So DeepMind, if you want a cool problem to solve, help us solve how each of these points interact and Footfalls will be able to gather the unimaginable amounts of data for your models to improve healthcare and hence make happier and healthier societies.

This data wouldn’t be another device, it would be the apparel, clothes and textiles you interact with everyday. The data would be personal and private and allow all of us to be the best versions of ourselves.

Why knitting, the above is why.

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