chaPter 12 the Broader context
520
design of the complex material and propulsion systems and are
relevant here as well.
In other areas, environmental comfort levels inside aircraft interiors
are far from satisfactory. Interest in improved sound environments
is always there, as is interest in improving basic thermal and air
environments. There are evolving interests in systems that aid in
health monitoring and the communication of health information
as well as providing direct aid. Various detection and alert systems
for threats from passengers or even crews are being explored. Many
of the areas of development already noted for the automobile
industry are equally important with respect to aircraft (see Section
122).
If we can characterize the electronics and aerospace industries as
leading industries in the development of sophisticated technologies, it might be safe to say that not so very long ago the textiles
industry seemed rather staid. This is interesting in its own right,
since historians of technology quite often point to the fabulous
early looms of Marie Jacquard and others in 18
th century France as
fundamental in the development of all subsequent industrial automation but also in the development of the idea of programmable
devices (some early looms used perforated cards to control weaving
patterns) that contributed to the development of computer logic
systems. The incredible rise of synthetic materials, including early
nylons and subsequent highperformance textiles in use all around
us are inextricably coupled with the textile industry. Current technologies and material use remain sophisticated.
The question facing the industry, however, is where might the
next really big level of new development come from? The recent
focus of many in the industry on the use of nanomaterials suggests an answer to that fundamental question. As we saw in Section
10.4, applications in textiles are developing rapidly. Many of the
drivers common to other industries that were mentioned—needs
for improved durability, appearance, and so forth—are the same. In
the textile industry, however, the driver of adopting or developing
new technologies as a way of opening up new product lines, particularly highvalue products, is pushing research and development
activities. This is not wishful thinking, either; nanomaterials can
help achieve such objectives as textiles that are antimicrobial and
can address a whole range of bacterial and fungal agents, or textiles
that are selfcleaning and perhaps even selfrepairing. Clothing with
true antimicrobial actions and some level of selfcleaning would
not only promote health objectives—a valued objective in its own
520
design of the complex material and propulsion systems and are
relevant here as well.
In other areas, environmental comfort levels inside aircraft interiors
are far from satisfactory. Interest in improved sound environments
is always there, as is interest in improving basic thermal and air
environments. There are evolving interests in systems that aid in
health monitoring and the communication of health information
as well as providing direct aid. Various detection and alert systems
for threats from passengers or even crews are being explored. Many
of the areas of development already noted for the automobile
industry are equally important with respect to aircraft (see Section
122).
If we can characterize the electronics and aerospace industries as
leading industries in the development of sophisticated technologies, it might be safe to say that not so very long ago the textiles
industry seemed rather staid. This is interesting in its own right,
since historians of technology quite often point to the fabulous
early looms of Marie Jacquard and others in 18
th century France as
fundamental in the development of all subsequent industrial automation but also in the development of the idea of programmable
devices (some early looms used perforated cards to control weaving
patterns) that contributed to the development of computer logic
systems. The incredible rise of synthetic materials, including early
nylons and subsequent highperformance textiles in use all around
us are inextricably coupled with the textile industry. Current technologies and material use remain sophisticated.
The question facing the industry, however, is where might the
next really big level of new development come from? The recent
focus of many in the industry on the use of nanomaterials suggests an answer to that fundamental question. As we saw in Section
10.4, applications in textiles are developing rapidly. Many of the
drivers common to other industries that were mentioned—needs
for improved durability, appearance, and so forth—are the same. In
the textile industry, however, the driver of adopting or developing
new technologies as a way of opening up new product lines, particularly highvalue products, is pushing research and development
activities. This is not wishful thinking, either; nanomaterials can
help achieve such objectives as textiles that are antimicrobial and
can address a whole range of bacterial and fungal agents, or textiles
that are selfcleaning and perhaps even selfrepairing. Clothing with
true antimicrobial actions and some level of selfcleaning would
not only promote health objectives—a valued objective in its own