In this section
Our research centres around the body and how technology can be used to improve how that body exists and interacts with the surrounding environment. We focus on haptic and aural modalities, using textiles as the physical medium for building wearable computational systems. Some of the research projects we undertake focus exclusively on textile sensing and interfaces whilst other focus solely on how auditory displays can be improved for users. A growing area of our work is looking towards how these two complementary technologies can be brought together in novel applications.
Below is a selection of projects grouped by theme of work:
Utilising novel textiles or electronic integrations to track and measure different forms of motion directly through fabric interventions.
Investigating next-generation haptic outputs embedded within textiles, with the unique ability to provide localised bodily sensations and tactile effects currently unavailable from other technologies.
Utilising novel textiles or electronic integrations to track and measure different forms of motion directly through fabric interventions.
Utilising novel textiles or electronic integrations to track and measure different forms of motion directly through fabric interventions.
The most developed strand of research in the group is tracking human motion through textile sensors. SensiKnit was developed by Dr Yi (Joy) Zhou during her PhD. SensiKnit is a graphene-based wearable monitoring system. The ergonomic sensors, crafted with digital knitting and laser-cutting, ensure close skin contact for accurate data collection and allow a full range of motion for user comfort. Integrated into wearables, SensiKnit can monitor body movements, such as knee bends and arm gestures, making it ideal for exercise interfaces and injury rehabilitation. Resistant to UV rays and washing, it offers consistent, real-time activity feedback under any condition.
This work has been published in Advanced intelligent Systems (Zhou, Y., Sun, Y., Li, Y., Shen, C., Lou, Z., Min, X. and Stewart, R. (2024), A Highly Durable and UV-Resistant Graphene-Based Knitted Textile Sensing Sleeve for Human Joint Angle Monitoring and Gesture Differentiation. Adv. Intell. Syst. 2400124. https://doi.org/10.1002/aisy.202400124).
The video was filmed and produced by Xiannuo Phoenix Zhao (Xcellent Productions Ltd).
@inproceedings{Herron:2026:10.1145/3772363.3798330,
author = {Herron, MT and Kohler, M and Nieri, T and Spinelli, DS and Canesi, I and Kutz, Z and Greinke, B and Stewart, R},
doi = {10.1145/3772363.3798330},
title = {Tear-able to Wearable: Exploring End-of-Life Pathways for E-Textiles},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/3772363.3798330},
year = {2026}
}
TY - CPAPER
AB - Electronic textiles (e-textiles) represent a growing area in HCI, yet their end-of-life remains largely underexplored, leaving no established pathways for addressing this emerging waste stream. This study represents the first step in an ongoing research program exploring recycling possibilities for e-textiles. This work examines the post-disassembly potential of conductive textile substrates to explore whether these materials retain functional value and if they can be reintegrated into new interactive systems. Using commercially available conductive woven fabrics, we apply mechanical recycling techniques adapted from traditional textile processing to produce new nonwoven materials suitable for medium-pressure, low-resolution piezoresistive sensing. Through electromechanical characterization, we identify both the opportunities and limitations of this approach.
AU - Herron,MT
AU - Kohler,M
AU - Nieri,T
AU - Spinelli,DS
AU - Canesi,I
AU - Kutz,Z
AU - Greinke,B
AU - Stewart,R
DO - 10.1145/3772363.3798330
PY - 2026///
TI - Tear-able to Wearable: Exploring End-of-Life Pathways for E-Textiles
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/3772363.3798330
ER -