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from the nothing-up-my-sleeve...-oh,-wait. dept.
Google and Levi's have designed a "smart jacket" with a touch-sensitive cuff that can control a smartphone:
More than a year after it was announced and two years after we first saw a demonstration of touch-sensitive fabric, the Levi's jacket with a smart sleeve is finally going on sale. I've been wearing this Levi's Commuter Trucker jacket for a few days now and it's very nice. It fits well and looks great. And by swiping or tapping the fabric on the left cuff, I have been able to control my smartphone.
Whether those things add up to a $350 value — the price of this jacket — is entirely a different question. It's targeted at people who commute by bike, and I think the only people beyond that target market are going to be a few techies and people who just really like jean jackets. It works with both Android and iPhone, by the way. A standard Levi's trucker jacket costs $148, though Levi's has been quick to point out that designer denim jackets can run well over $400. I'm no fashion critic, but I can tell you I'm impressed with the fit and look of this one.
When you talk to both Levi's and Google, they're very eager to tell a design story about this jacket, not just a technology story. It comes out of a partnership between the clothing company and a small division of Google dedicated to experimentation. We've seen lots of weird projects inside Google's ATAP, but most of them (like the ill-fated Project Ara) have ended up getting scuttled.
According to Google, the jacket can only be washed "up to" ten times:
This might be more of an interesting notion to think about if you watch the promotional video for the new piece of smart clothing as it's referenced as being washable as long as you remove the smart tag which connects to the fibers and to your phone through Bluetooth. This is also mentioned in the official blog post about the jacket when it was announced as being available this week, so you might think that removing the tag would be all that's needed, but if the wash limit is correct than[sic] any customers who pick this up might have to be a little more careful with what they spill on the jacket to ensure it stays as clean as possible.
It's also noted that the wash limit is merely "up to" ten times, with it being stated that the experience could vary from user to user, with various factors like wash cycle and usage playing a part in how many times the jacket can be washed.
Also at Google's Blog, SFist, and 9to5google.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Rich on Friday September 29 2017, @02:27PM (3 children)
Maybe someone could let them know that the above inventions have been made, and allow for temporary separation of different pieces of fabric? Then, one could simply remove these limited-washability parts, wash the jacket, and put the parts on after the remaining jacket has dried?
For example, the classic B-15 flight jacket has a fluffy collar that would probably suffer from intense machine washing - it can simply be buttoned off. (Sidenote: For somewhat weird reasons originating in a beer mood I sew my jackets myself these days, and they are made to be maintainable in that way...)
As for the price: By desperately trying to "value-add" ever more in order to mark up, they reach a price region where you can easily consult with a local tailor to have yours custom made to fit instead (if you aren't inclined to DIY). No comparison with the S/M/L standard sizes in terms of fitting, or achievable quality, durability or personal features (like enough pockets, or MOLLE/PALS, for as much bleeding "smart" electronic gear your back can carry...).
(Score: 2) by sgleysti on Friday September 29 2017, @04:04PM
Reading the summary, I thought that for the same price I could get something custom tailored. Glad I'm not the only one.
(Score: 2) by hemocyanin on Saturday September 30 2017, @04:53AM (1 child)
You could start a business buying the jackets, cutting off the cuff, and then reattaching it so that it is removable. Competent tailors are easy to find.
Like you though, I can't believe the notion of a removable section did not occur to the geniuses at Levis and Google.
(Score: 2) by darnkitten on Sunday October 01 2017, @04:09AM
Where do you live?
In the surrounding towns and the nearest three cities, I know a few saddle makers, one boot maker, a cobbler (by this I mean a shop that actually repairs shoes), and I used to know a shoemaker/cobbler (out of business now), and while I know tons of quilters (not sure if joking) and several people who can sew clothing from pre-made patterns with varying degrees of competence, I would trust none of them to tailor for me, nor even to draft or alter a usable pattern for me (I am not a standard size).
I'm not sure I would even trust me to tailor for myself--while I used to be (somewhat) competent--enough for theatrical, and not fashion purposes, I've gained a fair amount of weight in the decade-and-a-half since last doing it, and no longer have the equipment to be able to fit and alter to my current frame.