Professor Tilak Dias
Professor of Knitting, Nottingham Trent University
Professor Tilak Dias obtained a ‘Diplom-Ingenieur’ degree in textile engineering with summa cum laude from Technische Universität in Dresden in 1981 after completing his studies in Electrical and Electronics Engineering in Sri Lanka. In 1988 he obtained a ‘Dr.-Ingenieur’ degree also with summa cum laude from the Universität Stuttgart. Professor Dias has over 37 years of experience in knitted structure design and knitting technology and he joined Nottingham Trent University in 2010 after serving for 17 years at the University of Manchester. Professor Dias focuses his research activities in two areas: Advanced knitted structures and Integration of textiles with electronics. This research focus has led into such diverse fields such as knitted sensors, embroidered and knitted antennas, embedding micro-chips within the fibres of a yarn, electrically heatable knitted structures, knee ligament prostheses, engineered compression systems for the treatment of venous disease and lymphoedema and breathable prosthetic sleeves. Professor Dias has edited the world’s first reference title for R&D managers, postgraduate students and academic researchers on electronic textiles. He is also named as the lead inventor in 72 patents/patent applications.
Presentation Title:
- E-Textiles & Wearables – Weaving the Future into What you Wear
Presentation Summary:
- Today the demand for wearable devices is growing. To continue to meet this demand engineers, designers and commercial pioneers are conceptualising new applications. Textiles have a major role to play in this strategically important area and offer many advantages over traditional materials such as support for technologically advanced products, flexibility, softness, and high-strength-to-weight ratios. The highly developed mass production techniques that characterise the global textile industry facilitate the path for the development of new products and their cost-effective manufacture for many applications. This presentation investigates how modern textile technologies can be used to create wearable textiles of added value. Integrating sensors and active devices directly into the textile structure of clothing will mean the design becomes an aesthetic point of interest rather than an unattractive add-on and allow washability.
E-Textiles 2023 