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Phoenix666 [soylentnews.org] writes:

One of the most transformative technologies of the past few decades is the evolution of modular platforms. We started with big bricks, moved on to flip phones, and are now in an era of pocketable computers. They’re multimedia Legos, capable of running apps, acting as the brains for hardware add-ons, and interacting wirelessly with other objects.

Borre Akkersdijk is trying to replicate that same evolution with clothing [wired.com]. Over the past few years, he’s created several proof-of-concept pieces that reimagine clothing as input devices, Wi-Fi routers, and air purifiers. Depending on where his pieces are showcased, he switches up their technological functions to solve location-based problems.

Akkersdijk, who describes himself as a textile designer, studied at Eindhoven Design Academy in the Netherlands and the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. After school, he began experimenting with different kinds of knitting techniques, and a few years ago he was asked to help solve a common problem with the first wave of truly wearable technology.

“The Technical University of Eindhoven were doing a huge project called CRISP on smart textiles, and they bumped into the same problem every time,” Akkersdijk explains. “They were just sticking the technology onto the textile. It was just sort of a sandwich. And they were looking for new ways and base layers to put their sensor technology into.”

Predicting the first blockbuster product: vibrating underwear.

Original Submission