Computer whizzkids will soon have the latest games literally at their fingertips, thanks to a technological breakthrough.

A revolutionary electronic fabric known as Softswitch has been developed by Ilkley-based company WRONZ Inc.

It means people could soon be the owners of a tablecloth which plays music or an armchair with built-in switches to turn on lights.

Controls for music and games could even be included in clothes such as jackets and trousers, leaving people free to play and listen whenever they want.

The technology has already been used to make a jacket with an integral mobile phone keypad on the chest and a controller for a CD player on the sleeve. It's now on display at a new exhibition in London's Science Museum.

The same technology has also been used to make a torch that shines brighter the harder you squeeze it and a touch- sensitive fabric piano keyboard.

The revolutionary project has just won the annual Saatchi and Saatchi Innovation in Communication Award, beating off strong international competition.

WRONZ, along with materials company Peratech, has had the plans to develop new technology in clothing and other fabrics up its sleeve for the last three years.

It is hoping companies will come forward to turn the development into consumer packages which could be seen on the high street within the next year.

Dr Dianne Jones, research leader at WRONZ, in Little Lane, said: "In the next year we could see it being widely used depending on its application.

"The base technology we have developed is not expensive so it would depend on how much companies who develop it into products want to charge.

"There are so many different uses for the pressure-sensitive fabric.

"Switches in the chairs could be useful for people with mobility problems. It could even be used to assist the police force by incorporating a panic button into the uniform."

All the fabrics contain a touch-sensitive material that conducts more electricity the harder you press.

Tiny metal specks in the material are covered in a plastic layer that lets electricity flow only when the plastic is distorted.

PC Adrian Foyston, crime prevention officer at Keighley police, said: "I'd really like to look at this new development. But regarding crime prevention and security, we are talking about the unknown and we would really have to look at it to see if it would work."