The Final Note Connect to the internet
Wearable technology is on the increase and can be utilised to do everything from tracking fitness or communicating with friends and family. Now Google and Levi’s have unveiled the result of a two-year project to design their own version of wearable technology.
G
wearable technology way back in 2015. The Leviʼs Commuter Trucker Jacket is the result of Project Jacquard.
oogle and Leviʼs announced their collaboration to produce an item of
It is the first item of clothing to be powered by Jacquard technology. What is Jacquard technology I hear you ask! Jacquard enables touch technology to be woven into textiles using standard manufacturing processes that extend interactivity into garments. It is a connected apparel platform that allows fashion designers and apparel manufacturers to integrate connectivity and interactivity into
clothes.The aim of the project was to enable manufacturers to use Jacquard to create interactive textiles that link seamlessly with services and applications.
This technology was developed by Google ATAP, Googleʼs Advanced Technology and Projects group. At the start of the project the aim was to integrate Jacquard technology into a pair of jeans, but this clearly changed mid- project and the demin jacket was born.
The jacket’s features Leviʼs Commuter Trucker Jacket with Jacquard is just a jacket. Like any regular denim jacket it can be washed (just remove the snap tag), itʼs durable, designed to be comfortable for cycling and itʼll keep the wearer warm on and off the bike.
With Jacquard technology, the user will be able to perform common digital tasks by simply swiping or tapping the jacket sleeve.
The technology that makes this possible is embedded in the jacket. Gesture- sensing Jacquard threads are woven into the cuff and wirelessly connected to a mobile phone using tiny electronics embedded inside the sleeve and a flexible snap tag. The snap tag also notifies the wearer about incoming phone calls or text messages with light and haptic feedback. The gestures on the jacket are fully reconfigurable. Using the Jacquard app the wearer can assign gestures to invoke different abilities that were designed specifically for an on-the-go lifestyle. The wearer is able to play or pause their music, skip to the next track, or ask what song is playing, get their next direction, ETA or the current time, and receive updates on incoming calls or
| 82 | November 2017
Levi’s Commuter Trucker Jacket
texts with a subtle LED light and a vibration on their sleeve, or even has the text message read out loud. However, all is not as it seems. One reviewer of the jacket stated that the downside of it is the fact that the smart features arenʼt very smart. The smart tag is basically a smartwatch without the watch. The sleeve itself is however touch sensitive, which is the Jacquard fabric in action. The jacketʼs features also require the wearer to not only have their smartphone with them at all times, but also to wear headphones. And finally, the jacket can only be washed 10 times. It seems that there is still a long way to go before technology is fully integrated into clothing and even further to go before this wearable technology trickles down into the printwear market.
The Jacquard app
www.printwearandpromotion.co.uk
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