Fibre Computer Enables More Accurate Recognition of Human Activity
Corresponding Author: Qichong Zhang
Nano-Micro Letters,
Vol. 17 (2025), Article Number: 286
Abstract
The advancement of fibre electronics is crucial for developing wearable smart textiles. However, traditional single-function fibres are typically limited to basic sensing and data collection capabilities, lacking effective computational and multimodal signal processing abilities, thus significantly restricting their potential in human activity recognition. Recently, Gupta et al. introduced an innovative single-fibre computer embedding eight microelectronic devices, integrating sensing, communication, and computation into a single fibre. Establishing a distributed cooperative fibre network substantially enhanced human activity recognition accuracy from 67% (single-fibre scenario) to 95%. This novel approach effectively addresses the limitations of conventional smart fibres, paving the way for multi-point sensing, edge-based inference, and real-time human–computer interactions in future intelligent textiles.
Highlights:
1 Conventional microelectronics are scaled to the fibre level for information processing and storage in flexible, stretchable textiles.
2 Compared to single-fibre systems, multi-fibre computational architectures with coordinating modules exhibit higher reliability and more comprehensive functionalities.
Keywords
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- W. Yang, S. Lin, W. Gong, R. Lin, C. Jiang et al., Single body-coupled fiber enables chipless textile electronics. Science 384(6691), 74–81 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adk3755
- Z. Wang, Z. Wang, D. Li, C. Yang, Q. Zhang et al., High-quality semiconductor fibres via mechanical design. Nature 626(7997), 72–78 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06946-0
- G. Chen, X. Xiao, X. Zhao, T. Tat, M. Bick et al., Electronic textiles for wearable point-of-care systems. Chem. Rev. 122(3), 3259–3291 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00502
- P. Li, Y. Wang, X. He, Y. Cui, J. Ouyang et al., Wearable and interactive multicolored photochromic fiber display. Light Sci. Appl. 13(1), 48 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-024-01383-8
- K. Zeng, X. Shi, C. Tang, T. Liu, H. Peng, Design, fabrication and assembly considerations for electronic systems made of fibre devices. Nat. Rev. Mater. 8(8), 552–561 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41578-023-00573-x
- L. Wang, L. Wang, Y. Zhang, J. Pan, S. Li et al., Weaving sensing fibers into electrochemical fabric for real-time health monitoring. Adv. Funct. Mater. 28(42), 1804456 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201804456
- P. Li, M. Yang, Y. Liu, J. Zhang, S. He et al., The rise of intelligent fabric agent from mass-produced advanced fiber materials. Sci. Bull. 69(23), 3644–3647 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scib.2024.09.034
- N. Gupta, H. Cheung, S. Payra, G. Loke, J. Li et al., A single-fibre computer enables textile networks and distributed inference. Nature 639(8053), 79–86 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-08568-6
References
W. Yang, S. Lin, W. Gong, R. Lin, C. Jiang et al., Single body-coupled fiber enables chipless textile electronics. Science 384(6691), 74–81 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adk3755
Z. Wang, Z. Wang, D. Li, C. Yang, Q. Zhang et al., High-quality semiconductor fibres via mechanical design. Nature 626(7997), 72–78 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06946-0
G. Chen, X. Xiao, X. Zhao, T. Tat, M. Bick et al., Electronic textiles for wearable point-of-care systems. Chem. Rev. 122(3), 3259–3291 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00502
P. Li, Y. Wang, X. He, Y. Cui, J. Ouyang et al., Wearable and interactive multicolored photochromic fiber display. Light Sci. Appl. 13(1), 48 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-024-01383-8
K. Zeng, X. Shi, C. Tang, T. Liu, H. Peng, Design, fabrication and assembly considerations for electronic systems made of fibre devices. Nat. Rev. Mater. 8(8), 552–561 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41578-023-00573-x
L. Wang, L. Wang, Y. Zhang, J. Pan, S. Li et al., Weaving sensing fibers into electrochemical fabric for real-time health monitoring. Adv. Funct. Mater. 28(42), 1804456 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201804456
P. Li, M. Yang, Y. Liu, J. Zhang, S. He et al., The rise of intelligent fabric agent from mass-produced advanced fiber materials. Sci. Bull. 69(23), 3644–3647 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scib.2024.09.034
N. Gupta, H. Cheung, S. Payra, G. Loke, J. Li et al., A single-fibre computer enables textile networks and distributed inference. Nature 639(8053), 79–86 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-08568-6