A new generation of smart clothes will be embedded with small electronic devices and circuitry that will be able to monitor the health of the wearer by constantly recording the pulse and respiratory function, while being washable and reusable.

At least that's the vision of future intelligent suits, as seen by researchers from the University of South Australia, who have been experimenting with electronic technology incorporated into garments. These devices will automatically download recorded data to a computer in the wardrobe when placed on a hanger, where they will also recharge, ready to be worn again.

Electronic clothing has been experimented with before, for instance by Philips, who developed what they call "auto-adaptive clothes" made of shape-memory alloys that change shape when a small current passes through them, thus adjusting their size to fit perfectly on any given body.

The Australian clothes are more on the healthy side, keeping track of the physical condition of the wearer even after being cleaned, according to researcher and Director of UniSA's Wearable Computer Laboratory, Professor Bruce Thomas.

"For continuous monitoring, you can take off one garment and put on another smart garment so, instead of having just one heart monitor, you can have a wardrobe of them," Prof Thomas said. "The wardrobe has a touch screen on the outside and conductive metal bands spanning the hanging rail inside, with wires connecting it to a computer in the base of the wardrobe. When we place electronic hangers, each with their own ID and metal connection, on the rail, it detects the hangers and smart garments incorporating the conductive material and integrated electronics."

He sees many potential applications of the invention, like home care for stable patients, surveillance for the ones suffering from mental conditions and those with suicidal tendencies, but also as efficient tools for rapid paramedical intervention.