During 2010 Atelier Nord, in collaboration with Bergen National Academy of the Arts (KHiB) and the Swedish School of Textiles in Borås carries out the project Soft Technology, which is an area of commitment for Scandinavian competence building and exploration of “smart” materials, electronic textiles and textile electronics. Through a series of worklabs, seminars and open workshops the possibilities and challenges in the meeting between professional knowledge, new technology and art practice are being explored. Soft Technology is the first project to introduce e-textile to an audience outside the educational institutions in Scandinavia.

Smart materials are responsive and dynamic. They can change colour, shape and size according to the surroundings. Many of them also have the ability to remember their original condition or return to it.

Electronic textiles are textiles where electronic components are incorporated in the textile material, either by seam, weaving, pressure or other techniques.

Textile electronics are textile materials with characteristics corresponding electronics or elctro-mechanic components like weaved circuits, sewn sensors, live threads and fibres, and pigments reacting to light, sound, pressure, heat or humidity.

E-textiles are used as a collective term for all the above mentioned.

As a natural continuation of the project, Atelier Nord plans a travelling exhibition in 2011. The exhibition will show current international works using or based on e-textiles and e-textile techniques. The exhibition will tour all the Scandinavian countries. First show will be at Galleri Soft in Oslo in April 2011.