Textiles, too, can be intelligent

Like the canary in the coal mine

The first product is already market-ready – an armband with much the same function as the canary in the coal mine had years ago. When the canary lost consciousness and fell from its perch, the miners knew that it was time to leave the mine. The armband serves a similar purpose, and no birds are harmed in the process. Workers who are exposed to high temperatures can wear this armband, with a sensor that measures various vital signs. It communicates with the sensor to show the worker's level of heat stress, once a defined threshold has been reached. If the level is elevated, the armband turns red or orange, indicating to the employee and his fellow workers that action is needed to prevent an accident. "This product is the first of its kind in the world," says Mathis with obvious pride.

He has collaborated for many years with the engineer who developed the patent. "My network and my employees' expertise are great advantages," he says. In addition, as an established entrepreneur he has the financial resources to launch new companies. "Younger startup founders don't have that advantage, of course," he observes.

Josef Mathis is confident that smart textiles have enormous potential for the future. "The question with every new product is whether the market will accept it." Dynavisual's strategy is first to establish its products in Switzerland, but Mathis and his team are already looking beyond the country's borders. In that context, they plan to take advantage of their network of international companies headquartered in Switzerland.