Technology seems to be taking over almost every part of our lives nowadays.
And while we've seen many different kinds of wearables - fitness trackers, headphones with lots of features, smart watches, smart rings... There's one kind of wearable that hasn't really been created yet.
Smart Clothing.
Google and Levi's are coming out with a so-called "Smart Jacket", a connected denim jacket that will be linked to your phone.
The key here is the Jacquard Technology, a new invention from Google's ATAP division (Advanced Technology And Product).
The Jacket, called "The Commuter", uses conductive yarn woven into it, which can then be connected to your smartphone.
Details
The Interactive jacket has been created specifically for bike riders, so that they don't have to stop and get their phone out if they want to do things like change the music or get directions.
It was announced mid-2015 and was originally set to launch in spring 2017.
But the release date has now been pushed back to autumn of this year.
The price for this smart jacket will be $350.
How does it work?
A Jacquard tag will be implemented into the jacket's sleeve.
It connects with the conductive yarn that's woven into the jacket, allowing you to access certain features by tapping or swiping on that certain spot on the sleeve.
It can be charged via USB, and taken out if you want to wash the jacket.
Features
The smart jacket will be connected to your phone, and you'll be able to control certain features by swiping on your sleeve.
It will be similar to a smartwatch, but obviously much more unobtrusive and also exclusive. And futuristic!
- Music Control
According to the promo video above, you'll be able to control the music you're listing to by tapping on your sleeve.
Certain signals will change the volume, pause, play or skip a song! - Navigation
You will get directions for your navigation directly through the headset, so that you don't have to get out your phone and look at the directions during your ride. - Phone calls
You'll be able to answer or dismiss phone calls by tapping or doing a swiping motion on your sleeve.
On their website, Levi's have announced that more features will be added to the jacket in the future.
Personal Opinion
I like the idea of making technology more intuitive, and implementing it into our lives in a less obtrusive way.
There are many benefits that come along with these types of projects.
I think "The Commuter" is a very interesting innovation and a great first step, but it could really have some more features.
It's a great prototype and I hope it will pave the way for other, more advanced smart wearables in the future.
Google has already announced that they plan to use their Project Jacquard technology with other products as well, so we'll see what they come up with!
What do you think about smart clothing? Would you buy this jacket?
Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
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