Garments or Gadgets???

Two years after seeing the first demonstration of touch-sensitive fabric and a year after the announcement of the product, Google and Levi will finally come forward on Wednesday the 27th and present their newest innovation. They’ve created Project Jacquard. This product to the naked eye just appears to be a stylish denim jacket, however when connected with the interactive bluetooth device that clips onto the cuff button its wearer can just touch their sleeve and be able to control calls, music, and directions. This product comes at quite the price though. The Commuter Style Jacket itself runs on the market for $150 but with this added technology the jacket is now being listed for $350. The Jacquard threads which allow the wearer to interact with technology responds to swipes and touches. Each movement is programmed to do a different action, whether it be declining or answering a call or pausing or playing a song. A jacket with technology like this is convenient for the constant commuter where having hands free devices is your best friend. In most advertisements for the new jacket its being seen as a bicyclists newest tool. Google definitely has entered into some cutting new technology with intertwining function and fashion but only time will tell whether or not this product meets the public with satisfaction.

http://www.androidpolice.com/2017/09/25/googles-project-jacquard-smart-jacket-goes-sale-wednesday-350/

https://atap.google.com/jacquard/

https://www.theverge.com/2017/9/25/16354712/google-project-jacquard-levis-commuter-trucker-jacket-price-release-date

7 thoughts on “Garments or Gadgets???

  1. After not hearing about this technology until I began this class I immediately became interested in what this advanced technology has to offer. I think that wearable technology could benefit almost everybody as they go about their everyday life. I did some more research about some up and coming wearable technology items and I came across one very interesting coat. There is a winter jacket created by PolarSeal that is equipped with two heating zones inside. The heating zones are located in the front and back of the jacket and can be controlled by two small buttons on the sleeve of the jacket. The coat can also heat up in as little as ten seconds. As technology like this keeps popping up in stores, customers will be able to reap the benefits that they have to give.

    http://mashable.com/2017/08/09/beat-the-cold-with-polar-seal-heated-tops/#ymCwH8uqigq1

  2. I have always been ambivalent when it comes to adding technology to clothing. I can understand and relate to athletes finding it very useful or the convenience of charging your phone in your pocket, but I feel like there are a lot of drawbacks that come with it. What if you leave your sweatshirt somewhere that has your credit card information in it?

    On the other hand, after doing more research, I found an article of wearable technology that could potentially be lifesaving for some or just very beneficial for others. Owlet has created a “Smart Sock” that can tell you your baby’s heart rate, and oxygen levels. It sends an alarm to the baby’s parent’s phone when the levels become abnormal. Having a close family member who was born very prematurely and had to be monitored very closely for the first year of his life this is something I think could have helped out his parents. I believe there could be some potential issues with this device and may not be extremely accurate and not all clothing should carry technology, but when it comes to health, smart clothing could be very beneficial.

    https://www.wareable.com/smart-clothing/smart-clothing-what-are-the-benefits-2016

    https://www.owletcare.com/smart-sock-2/

  3. Now that wearables have made their way to this year’s New York Fashion Week a new audience will be exposed to this technology. Many technology companies, such as Apple with the Apple Watch, and Google with Google Glasses are already in the wearable technology industry of creating technology that consumers can wear during everyday life. Even athletes have been exposed to this wearable technology in the form of sneakers, shirts, and devices like the fitbit. Athletes commonly use this technology for tracking things like heart rate or steps taken. However, now that wearable technology has become stylish more people will be willing to adopt these devices. For example, Rebecca Minkoff recently used “connected handbags” at a Fashion Week show that was staged in LA. These handbags were used as a virtual ticket that would allow guests access to the show through a digital VIP identity. Minkoff also claims that all of the bags from here on out with be considered “smart” (Charara). Another popular label in menswear, DYNE, paired with Samsung in order to create NFC tags for each of the items being shown. Android users at the show would be able to get more information about the clothing through the NFC tags on their mobile devices. Not only is this technology allowing for more interactive fashion shows, but people who may have written off wearable technology as “ugly” or “not-fashionable” are now able to see top brands incorporating this technology in a trendy way. Not only will young people whom are interested in fashion be willing to try these devices, but also loyal customers to these brands will also be able to get their feet wet with this type of technology. For example, a woman in her 50s who may have never be interested in this type of technology may now be buying a handbag from her favorite designer, such as Rebecca Minkoff, that is already equipped with this technology. Overall, now that wearable technology has been shown in NYFW the audience for these devices will expand tremendously and won’t be limited to athletes and tech-lovers.

    Charara, Sophie. “Wearable tech at NYFW 2017: Data dresses, LEDs, NFC and VR fashion shows.” Wareable, 14 Feb. 2017, http://www.waChreable.com/fashion/wearable-tech-nyfw-2017-7776. Accessed 26 Sept. 2017.

    https://www.wareable.com/fashion/wearable-tech-nyfw-2017-7776

  4. The idea of incorporating technology into clothing and different items that we wear is something that has always interested me. By adding these different type of features to clothing, it allows the user to have a more interactive life. Whether its using this technology to learn more about themselves, or helping themselves, there are so many different things that are coming out onto the market that are addressing this. There is on company that I found that dedicates there time and resources to doing this. AIQ is a company that focuses on incorporating technology into comfortable clothing to help with any daily needs that you might need. Some of the ideas that they have come up with and have put to market are products that have strip lights on sweatshirts, heated clothing, and Bio Monitoring. They really have took a leap into this field and taken it by storm. It just goes to show that your really can mix technology with anything to create a better life. Attached is a direct link to the companies website so you can learn more about them.

    http://www.aiqsmartclothing.com/#heating

  5. I found an article about how some of the clothes come with things like contactless payment (which I would like to know what security is on that or if someone could just take your jacket and pay for it) but I don’t see any of this becoming an actual part of society until it becomes for affordable. A lot of simple ones atleast $150, and most over $200 just aren’t a price people are going to pay for casual workout gear
    But a lot that I’ve read of make me think that we’re moving more towards the world depicted in a movie called “Idiocracy”, great movie about the future where people’s live are all run by technology and people know how to do very little on their own.
    https://www.wareable.com/smart-clothing/best-smart-clothing

  6. This idea has fascinated me since middle school when hoodies with headphones as the drawstring were created, replacing the one kid would always use to sneakily listen to music in class. I was surprised when I researched this topic further and found so many articles using several forms of new terminology like “smart clothes” and “wearables” for this emerging technology trend. As this article explains, smart clothing is booming in the athletic clothing department. This makes sense because just like the commuters and bicyclists mentioned, exercisers need hands-free devices that accommodate their lifestyle. It is also convenient for active people because it can measure and track things like heart rate, muscle tension, and even stress levels in a simple sports bra or shorts without the extra accessory like smart watches or phones or glasses. Many technology companies are coming out with wearables that are customizable and come in different colors. Name brands in fashion like Tommy Hilfiger and Joe’s Jeans are creating solar powered and chargeable garments. While these advances are interesting and can have very convenient functions, I am curious to see the problems that arise as more people begin to use them, and how soon they will become mainstream.

    https://www.digitaltrends.com/wearables/smart-clothing-is-the-future-of-wearables/

  7. This article highlights an emerging new industry or the combination of two different industries, that being the clothing one and the technology industry. This shirt can be very practical to some people or just a cool new technology for anyone. This article got me thinking of other “wearable technologies”, so I looked up some other ones that could eventually become common place. One really neat one I found, is for a pair of pants to have the ability to charge your phone while it is in your pocket. Of course, there can be some drawbacks, but in theory it sounds like a practical idea. The most popular ones we’ve seen are items such as smartwatches or clothes that can regulate temperatures or even smart glasses like Google glass. Another cool idea I found, is that of clothes that contain your credit card information, so you can just check out with your jacket or ring for example. This new industry is young and exciting, but will have some negative aspects to it as well just like any other business.

    http://www.complex.com/style/2015/11/the-best-tech-innovations-in-fashion-so-far/clothes-that-make-payments

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