Solar Textiles

In a workshop at CSM we learnt all about photovoltaics (solar cell technology) and recapped our shaky GCSE physics knowledge on electricity and building circuits! We all built our own soft circuits using conductive threads and or fabrics, creating our own smart textiles. One point was raised though, whatever research labs say about their 'new and exciting' technologies is not all of it will come to fruition. To take a slightly cynical view, funding always needs to be secured!

Below is a picture of my soft circuit, there is a battery wired in but that was just to test, there wasn't much sun, but a solar panel could be put in the battery's place! The Velcro in the image is conductive and acts as he switch.



One of the most interesting points that I found was the idea that it is important to look beyond the face benefits of new technology. For example there are now flexible solar cells, great, however they only last a matter of months and there is the issue of how to recycle such products, our recycling system is not equipped to deal with them, not to mention all the resources that are used to produce these relatively short living cells. So in actual fact the large solar panels you see on roofs are more ecologically sound, so just because something is tagged as a 'green' energy source doesn't necessarily mean it is beneficial to the environment. This is not to be negative, but these aspects are important for designers to consider when working with this technology.

Is was a great three days however and some wonderful things were created!

Below is Sophy's LED bracelet



Below is an image of a prototype interactive drawing board, when the graphite touches the surface the circuit is connected and LEDs light up.


A flexible solar cell