Lesson video

Hi, and welcome to what is our second lesson in the Design and Technology, Textiles unit of work.

My name is Mr. Wicken, and as always, it's great to see you here today in our lesson.

In today's lesson, we're going to look at what are smart and modern textile materials, and how they are used in a variety of different products to make what we can purchase a far more modern and intelligent designed product.

So let's have a look at today's learning objectives.

Now, before we go into the learning objectives, as always, if you haven't yet got the intro quiz done, if you could pause the video here now and go and get that done first, that'd be great.

All right, now that's done.

Let's go through the learning objectives.

The first one is what modern fibres are, and why they're used in textile-based products.

We're going to look at some examples of modern fibres and actually how they've been used in different products and why they've been used in those contexts.

Then we're going to look into what a smart fibre is.

And more importantly, what the difference is between a modern and a smart fibre when we're talking about it in relation to a textile-based product.

Then you're going to use those areas of learning about modern and smart fibres, to actually create a new sort of product using those two different areas of learning that we would have gone through.

And as always, we're going to finish off with the exit quiz, just to conclude all the learning we've done in today's lesson and to show you just how much you've actually understood.

Now, to be successful as always, we need to make sure we've got the right equipment.

So you need to make sure you've got an exercise book or some plain piece of paper.

I don't mind which one, just make sure you've got some to hand.

You're going to need a pen, again, make sure it's working and it's comfortable to use.

It doesn't matter what the colour is, just make sure you've got one.

And you're also going to need a computer or tablet, some sort of device that is Internet enabled because you're going to need to do some further research for one of the activities in later part of this lesson.

So if you haven't got those things, pause the video here now and go and grab them for me.

Brilliant.

Now let's go in today's keywords.

And the first one is modern.

So I'm going to say, and you're going to repeat it.

So modern, modern, modern.

Excellent, well done.

So, modern is not only a word that you know, and have used probably a different context.

But in this situation, what we're talking about with modern is some sort of bang up to date, technique, or idea, or a piece of equipment, or in this case, some materials as well, that really do actually enhance the way in which we live our lives.

So if something is modern, it is characterised as being up to date, and at the cutting edge usually, of technology.

The other key word is smart materials.

So I'll say it, you repeat it.

Smart materials, smart materials, smart materials.

Excellent, well done.

Now a smart material is something that is really different and quite unusual.

You might not have come across these, but I'm going to give you an example in a minute of them.

So, a smart material is something that reacts as a material to its environment that it's in.

The best example I can give you is to do glasses.

You may have, or know somebody who has glasses, that when they go into the sunlight, they self tint, and that's because the glass that's inside actually has reacted to the UV from the sun to tint them.

Isn't that amazing? And that is a smart material.

So a smart material will react to the environment it's in, so that it changes its properties to enhance the experience for the user.

So let's go and have a look at today's first learning objective.

So, the first area of of learning in today's lesson, is what are modern fibres? So, modern fibres are fibres that have been designed to be used in a variety of different textile-based products that can provide three very clearly defined areas.

It can help the product be found lighter.

It can help the product actually breathe, to allow air to circulate around the piece of clothing.

But also, a modern fibre can allow the product to be waterproof.

So let's have a think about something for a minute.

Why would we want a textile product to have lightness, breathability and/or waterproof? It could be one of those things, it could be a couple, or it could be all three.

So pause the video and I want you to have to think why would we want that in a textile-based product? Okay, so now you've had time to think about it.

Let's have a think together as a group.

So let's start with lightness.

Why would we want something to be light? Right, absolutely.

If we've got heavy clothing on us, it can weigh us down, we're not going to move easily with them.

And actually it's going to be really hard to wear as a person.

The other thing then, is breathability.

So what's the benefit to our clothes? Allowing it to breathe.

Excellent, really good, yeah.

By allowing the clothes to breathe, we're allowing things to be far cooler, especially in the summer months, but also allow us to feel far more comfortable and at ease in our clothes because the air is allowed to circulate.

You know, we're not getting all hot and sweaty, bothered underneath our clothing because we're allowing a circulation of air through the clothing itself.

And the last one is, why would we want something to be waterproof? Exactly.

Because if we're outside and it's raining, we don't want to be in soaky clothes, do we? We want to be in clothes that are allowing the water to just roll off onto the floor and we are staying dry.

I mean, if we think about the weather in Britain it's always raining.

So waterproofing our clothing is a fantastic thing for us here in this country.

It's great.

So these are the benefits that modern fibres can provide for our clothes.

So this is a product that is made from Gore-tex.

Now Gore-tex is an example of a modern fibre.

The coat that you see here, actually has been designed so that people can wear it, that it actually incorporates all three of those areas.

It's lightweight, it's waterproof, but also it breathes.

So, this coat has all three of those things.

So let's have a think, who would be someone that would buy this coat to wear, and why? Pause the video, have a think, why would somebody want to buy this coat and who would that person actually be? Right, so you've had a little think about, who would buy this product.

So let's have a think, who would want to buy this type of product.

Okay, so there's a variety of different people that might want to buy this product.

One of the big people that I can think of in my mind that would want to buy this product, is somebody who maybe actually has a boat or works on a boat.

Because if they're at sea, they're going to definitely want it to be waterproof.

They're going to want it to be lightweight, and they're going to want it to be breathable so they can stay comfortable whilst they are on the boat.

Be it working or for pleasure, is up to them.

Also, maybe somebody who's into outdoor activities, maybe walking or hiking, maybe they are into running as well.

But again, they want those three things because the movement of them as they're walking, these three areas will allow that coat to be far more comfortable for the person to use.

I'm sure you've got lots, more ideas, as to who would want to buy this coat, but it just gives you an idea and an understanding as to why these three areas of modern fibres really help us benefit from our end products that's been designed using them.

Now, I've got here some Marks and Spencer socks, and they're called, Cool & Fresh.

And that's a trademark of Marks and Spencers.

And the reason why, is because these socks, which I think are fantastic, and I've got some myself, I know this, actually these socks keep sweat and unwanted bad smelly odours away, because what actually is built into these socks is a modern fibre that allows for sweat and unwanted odours to disappear, because it's allowing the socks to breathe.

If you think, if you've had a hard day at school and you've been on your feet all day, or you've had a PE lesson, very often our feet can get really smelly and really sweaty.

Oh, God, horrible.

Now, actually having a sock like that is really, really useful.

So would you buy these socks so that you don't have smelly feet? Of course you would, absolutely.

Nobody wants smelly feet, do they? No, of course not.

So this is a really great feature built into these socks from Marks and Spencers, that allow the socks to be breathable and lightweight as well.

But again, stops having those horrible, sweaty odours that we just really don't want.

And this again, is the benefit of a modern fibre in a textile based product.

Now, I've got a worksheet here that I'd like you to go and have a go at in a moment.

And there's three questions to do with the shirt, the white shirt.

And actually there are modern fibres that can provide more than just, you know, taking away bad odours.

So the questions are, how would the use of a modern fibre that stopped creasing benefit the user and why? So very often shirts can get horrible crease marks in them because they haven't been ironed or they've been in the shirt cupboard for whatever long and they've got creased.

But actually, if you had a modern fibre used that could stop that creasing, what would the benefits be to the user and why? And the other thing there, it's very similar to the socks.

How would the use of a modern fibre in this shirt that stopped sweat odours, so anything under the armpits, , okay? How would that benefit the user, and why again? So there's two very clear areas about creasing and odours, and why that would benefit the end user that actually wears that shirt.

So, pause the video here now, go and grab that worksheet and have a think about, why actually the use of a modern fibre in that shirt design is a benefit to the end-user and why that is a benefit? For it to be anti-crease, so to speak, and anti-odor, what benefits could that bring the user? If that was me, let's say that's me at my school teaching, and I've got that shirt, what benefits is that going to provide me? Have a think.

There's quite a lot of different reasons and you might want to go and have a little research online to see, actually, are there any shirts in the market already that have anti-crease and anti-sweat technology built in to help you answer the questions? So pause the video, have a go, good luck.

Welcome back, and I hope you got on well with looking into that product using modern fibres.

Now let's move on to our second area of learning in today's lesson, which is about smart fibres.

So smart fibres are different in modern in the respect that they are designed to allow actually being woven into a piece of clothing, for instance, an actual circuit or microprocessor, to allow the circuit itself, to be part of the shirt, not a separate thing that's just stuck in.

Actually to be woven into the fibre itself, allows a small amount of electricity to pass through it, to create the circuits.

Isn't that amazing.

And that is what a smart fibre would be.

Is it allows that circuitry to actually be built into the whole piece of clothing to allow it to work.

Now, here's a question before we go any further.

Why would we want a textile product to actually have a circuit and or microprocessor built in, woven in, whatever it might be, to the actual product.

Pause the video and we'll have a little chat about it afterwards.

Okay, now, you've had a little think about why, but let's have a look at an example.

And I'm sure you've got some really good understanding and ideas, but I'm going to show you one that is a really interesting area of development and something that I think could truly change the way that we see clothing.

Now, if we think of firefighters, amazing people, brave men and women who put their lives on the line daily to protect us.

And this is where smart fibres could absolutely revolutionise the way in which we protect our firefighters.

So imagine this, those clothes that they wear to protect themselves are fantastic.

And they are usually made from modern fibres that can repel heat to a certain point.

But actually if we incorporate smart fibres, we could do the following.

So the first one is if we had a sensor system, built in, woven in, to their jackets and their clothes and their gloves, whatever it might be, that detected the temperature.

It could tell the wearer instantly, if it's got too hot in that environment, it could sound an alarm and say, well, it's far too hot in here, you need to get out.

This is going to be dangerous.

This could affect you.

Now that would be life changing and life saving.

Whilst the modern fibre could repel the heat to a certain point, the smart fibre is actually telling the wearer, look is too high here, you need to get out now.

Isn't that amazing? That would be truly revolutionary.

Another area, is actually what about when we've got those jackets on as well as a temperature sensor.

We've also got a sensor that can detect bad chemicals and gases that are in the atmosphere, because actually firefighters don't just go into burning buildings, they go into chemical spills or areas that are incredibly hazardous to their health.

And actually, if we'd got a sensor built-in, that's detecting those bad odours in the smell, that that straightaway would tell the wearer, right, there is something in the atmosphere, you're breathing in is dangerous to your health, get out now.

Again, saving lives.

And the last one is, what about like we have with these smartwatches and stuff now, but actually built fully into the clothing they're wearing.

Something that detects their heart rate, their pulse, maybe to do with their moisture levels, all those kinds of things.

That could then be relayed back to a central command point by the fire engine, that can tell the people back there, look actually over the radio, that we've had something come through, you're not safe in there, you need to get out now.

And that's telling those people that are in danger, to get out, to save their lives.

That is the benefit of smart fibres.

Truly revolutionary pieces of technology that's built into their clothes.

Not added on, but actually woven in to the clothes.

That's fantastic, and that will save people's lives.

And this is where developments are going with this type of technology.

So keep an eye out for it.

Now, when we talk about smart clothing, there are other areas.

Yes, we can look into the life-saving things, but actually we could also look into things that could add enjoyment to our lives.

And one area of that is actually, what about if we use the smart fibres to build into our clothes and MP3 player? So what I mean by that, is instead of having a separate MP3 player that we put into our pockets, what about actually, if on my sleeve, I have a play button, a pause button, a rewind, fast-forward, a skip track, whatever.

Even maybe a little screen that could be built into it, that's telling me who's playing.

Now, that would be really cool or would it? That's what I want you to do.

Using the worksheet, I want you to analyse whether having an MP3 player built into your piece of clothing, be it a jacket, a shirt, trousers, would that be a good thing? So there are four things I want you to consider.

The advantages, to actually having that MP3 player built into your piece of clothing.

The disadvantages, what are the disadvantages to actually having a built-in.

Think about washing the clothes? There's a hint.

Next one, would you actually buy it? Would you buy a piece of clothing that has an MP3 built into it physically, not a separate thing that you take away with you and put it in your pocket.

But actually physically built into the piece of clothing with the buttons there.

Would you buy that? And lastly, how could it be improved? I've given you some ideas about having where the play, pause button is and maybe little screen, but actually you might come up with some better ideas.

How about actually, you've got one of the colours for skip forward and one of the colours for skip backwards or whatever it might be, is entirely up to you, but put them down onto the worksheet, so that you are showing to me your understanding.

So pause the video here now, go and grab the worksheet, and have a think, would you want this product? Good luck.

Welcome back, and I hope you got on well with the worksheet on smart fibres.

And actually you've got a really good understanding at whether you would actually want that product with the MP3 player built in or not want that product.

Interesting, isn't it.

Now, we're going to move on to our third and final area of learning in today's lesson, which is the use of these two different fibres.

So now we've got a really good understanding of what a modern fibre is and a smart fibre.

We've looked at some examples in both areas, as to where they are and why they would be used.

These two fibres, whilst might only be used in quite limited ways at the moment, especially the smart fibre, actually over the next 10 years, these two areas will revolutionise the way textile products are designed and developed and then manufactured, because this is just the beginning of the piece of technology.

You are in a really lucky position to see these things change over your lifetime, to make our textile products even better than they already are.

Now, there are many different types of textile products available to buy.

And we looked at these things last lesson.

I've just got them there to remind you, but I'll talk about the sub-categories.

So clothing, footwear, soft furnishing, upholsteries and household items. Obviously there are lots more available, but these are just some sort of key main areas for textile products.

And these are all on sale today that you could go and buy no problem.

But here's what I want you to do.

Thinking about those different products that are available to buy now.

I want you to go away and design a new product within those categories that incorporate both a modern and a smart fibre.

Now, when you're designing this product, you need to think back to that previous slide and actually what the different products are.

You must make sure that when you're designing this product, you are labelling where the modern, and smart fibres are being used.

But more importantly than that, is that when you're designing this and you're using that modern and that smart fibre, it's solving a problem, that's really important.

Taking the properties from either that modern or that smart fibre, you need to show how that by incorporating those fibres, you are solving a problem.

Like we spoke about with the socks, or the jacket, with the modern fibre, how that it was, you know, anti-sweat, or it was waterproof, or even with a shirt, how could have anti-crease technology.

Or with the example of the firefighters to do with the life-saving circuitry that could be built in.

That's the same thing I want you to do when you are looking at those previous products.

Actually, what is an issue, or what is a problem at the moment.

And how could you, by using those modern and smart fibres solve a problem, that's important.

So you're going to pause the video here now.

I want you to use either your excise book or your blank piece of paper, and I want you to draw and sketch out a new textile product, that incorporates both the modern and the smart fibres.

Make sure it's solving a problem.

And that when you are drawing those, you are labelling the designs to clearly show where those different fibres are being used.

Don't forget, add lots of colour, make sure it looks really pretty the design, but I want you to come up with a design that incorporates the modern and the smart fibres.

So pause the video, have a go now and good luck.

Welcome back.

And I think you had lots of fun, designing a new textile product using both modern and smart fibres.

I'm sure you've come up with some fantastic ideas and solutions for that textile-based product, incorporating those two different fibres.

And you've now got a really clear idea as to what those two can offer the products in the end.

Those designs, keep holding them 'cause we're going to come back to them in a later lesson.

So don't lose them.

They're going to be really important for a future lesson.

And that's it for today's lesson.

Thank you so much for being here as always.

We've learned a great deal in today's lesson.

We now understand what a modern fibre is, and where and why they could be used.

We've also looked into smart fibres, and how they could be incorporated into different products to save a person's life, but also to add enjoyment as well.

And then you've gone away and redesigned a textile product, incorporating both a modern, and smart fibre to solve a problem with it.

As always, I would love to see your work.

And if you can get your parents or carers to takes some photos, they can share it online using the hashtag, LearnwithOak.

I can't wait to see you in our next lesson.

Take care, bye-bye.