TUBITAK, the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey, has backed the development of a groundbreaking “smart t-shirt” under its 1001 program.
This t-shirt is capable of instantly displaying and recording a range of physical data from the wearer, including metrics such as oxygen consumption, step count, sweat analysis, and breathing rate. Named “TrackShirt”, this wearable technology, combined with an AI-based decision support system, is designed for use in team sports like basketball, volleyball, and handball, as well as individual sports such as tennis and athletics.
Sensor-Driven Insights
The smart t-shirt will monitor daily sports activities of the wearer, capturing data like heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, sweat pH level, energy expenditure, maximal oxygen consumption, and step count through integrated sensors. This data can then be processed to create personalized training programs for athletes. The shirt is also being designed as a seamless knit to cater to the needs of everyday sports enthusiasts, ensuring flexibility and comfort.
Anticipating High Demand
Dr. Tolga Akşit, a faculty member at Ege University’s Faculty of Sports Sciences, commented on the product, which is still in its development phase. “We will begin testing the t-shirt on athletes in a laboratory setting this November.” “Our rector, Prof. Dr. Necdet Budak, has provided us with immense support. Given its ability to monitor physiological parameters and its user-friendliness, we anticipate significant demand for our t-shirt. We foresee it capturing a significant market share globally. Previous wearable products remained as projects and didn’t become widely available in the market. This indicates the novelty and originality of our initiative. We believe our t-shirt will pave the way for future innovations in this field,” reported Hurriyet.
Successful Exercise Tests
The multi-center project, which has successfully undergone exercise testing, is being carried out jointly by Ege University’s Faculty of Sports Sciences, Dokuz Eylül University’s Faculty of Sports Sciences and Engineering, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University’s Faculty of Science, and Yünsa Woolen Industry and Trade Inc. R&D Center.
