"A Lifetime Partner in the Form of a Wearable Device" – The Potential of Mitsufuji's "String-Faced Metal" Called AGposs

Wearable devices are now a common sight around us. Mitsufuji Corporation a long-established company in Kyoto founded in 1956 and originally a Nishijin obi factory, has also been an early player in the wearable business.
 
At the center of their business is the silver-plated conductive fiber "AGposs." By applying highly conductive silver fiber as a sensor that can capture biological information, they have created smart wear that can determine the body's condition just by being worn. They have also focused on developing a system that accurately acquires and analyzes vital data using their unique technology.
 
This time, AGposs has evolved further into a wearable sensor that can significantly reduce body motion noise by combining it with Sumitomo Bakelite Company's high-tear-resistant silicone rubber "DuraQ®." They have launched the chest belt-type heart rate sensor "MITSUFUjI 01" this month. How has AGposs evolved, what challenges have underpinned this evolution, and what future do wearable devices enable? We spoke with Hideyuki Mitera, who is in charge of development, and Mizuki Gamo from public relations.