Group work: Rachel Lin,  Lucy Tam,  Zev Zhang,  Issac IIgbokwe-Aham, Yannis Papidakis
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Category: HCI
Location: London, United Kingdom

Traditional wearables often fall short in delivering precise, real-time insights due to their limited ability to detect subtle muscle dynamics. This speculative concept—the AI Coach Smart Textile—reimagines performance training through a fabric-based system that merges intelligent sensing with embedded AI. Crafted from breathable, conductive materials and enhanced with electroactive fibers like PEDOT, the textile acts as a responsive second skin, capable of detecting fine-grained biomechanical activity.
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Tiny, distributed AI processors interpret these signals on the fly, offering instant, context-aware feedback through tactile signals or voice guidance. Whether it’s adjusting posture mid-stride or optimizing muscle engagement during training, the system empowers users with coaching that adapts in real time.
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Looking ahead to the next decade, this vision positions smart textiles as a transformative platform for human performance—moving beyond passive tracking to deliver deeply personalized, intuitive, and continuous support during physical activity.