In the future, your T-shirt could let you know about your breathing patterns or send a warning if your temperature is too high.

Revealed at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the YouCare project aims to do just that with a textile technology that involves small, imperceptible sensors set in fabric that can remotely monitor the wearer's health in real time with speed of the 5G network.

The fabric has no metal components and can be thrown in the wash.

According to Chinese technology company ZTE, a partner in the project, "bio-vital parametres" including muscle exertion and the components of sweat are analyzed and sent to the individual as well as a "remote unit" that looks at the data with medical software.

"It is an invention that will change the life and the quality of home and remote medical assistance to many citizens experiencing health problems and vulnerable people suffering from chronic diseases," said Francesco Rocca, president of the Italian Red Cross, in a statement.

ZTE's Innovation and Research Centre in L'Aquila, Italy, is set to begin testing the textile technology starting from next autumn.

 - dpa