National University of Singapore researchers develop world-first touchscreen garment

Researchers at the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) College of Design and Engineering have developed the world’s first touchscreen integrated directly into a garment. The team created a specialized fibre that functions simultaneously as pixels and touch sensors.

By integrating 54 of these fibres into a sleeve, the researchers produced a wearable interface capable of displaying images and video, responding to finger presses, and connecting wirelessly to other devices. Unlike traditional rigid screens found on phones or laptops, this textile remains as washable, breathable, and flexible as ordinary clothing.

The technology was made possible by constructing a graphical user interface (GUI) system from electronic building blocks in fibre form. To achieve this, the team developed a programmable method using lasers and controlled surface wetting to bond molten solder to tiny, insulated wires. This process allowed for the integration of more than 5,000 chips through over 20,000 electrical connections, enabling a full-colour, touch-sensitive display that can be threaded like yarn.