The German federal government held its 11^th Open Day on the 22nd and 23^rd August. This year, for the first time, Fraunhofer IZM scientists also took part. The federal ministry for education and research (BMBF) invited the public to a journey through 60 years of research in Germany.

At one stop on the trip visitors had the opportunity to learn about Fraunhofer IZM’s latest developments, produced as part of the “E-motion” project. An interdisciplinary initiative by the Berlin University of the Arts (UdK)’s Institute of Fashion and Textile Design, IZM’s researchers have been contributing their know-how in assembly and interconnection technology.

On display were electronics and microsystems integrated into textiles and fashion, which make visible the body’s biometric data and a spectrum of emotions – interactive fashion as a means of communication, as a “second skin”. Although the functionality of the clothing is often the main focus of so-called “intelligent textiles”, in this case the UdK research group has been more concerned with designing aesthetically pleasing fashion that is suited to everyday wear.

The developments presented over the weekend included an interactive coat with flexible LED stripes and integrated sensors supplied by IZM scientists.