LG Innotek unveils a flexible pressure sensor

LG Innotek has developed a flexible textile pressure sensor. The sensor has many applications - from sports equipment to healthcare.

The new sensor is highly durable. It can work from -40° to 80°, and can withstand 100,000 cycles of people sitting on it. Unlike previous flexible pressure sensitive solutions, this one makes more uniform measurements and does not irritate the skin like the old PET-based sensors (which weren't all that bendy either).

The sports wearables market is exploding and there are several companies offering smart shirts. This could also be fashioned into gloves, so it tracks your golf swing grip.

Healthcare uses include anything from a simple carpet, which allows the sensor to measure your posture, to smart clothing that can be stream data to a hospital 24/7.

There are potential automotive uses as well, a smart seat can feel your posture and adjust itself automatically. The press release didn't mention mobile uses, but it's not hard to imagine a smartphone case that's controlled via touch (say, a textile keyboard maybe?).