Google and Levi’s create smart jacket
24/05/2016
Project Jacquard is the fruit of a collaboration between Google’s Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) team and Levi’s and features a new type of conductive yarn and tiny circuits that can be woven into any textile to produce touch-sensitive surfaces.
The Jacquard jacket features a smart tag which provides feedback to the user. It contains LEDs and haptic sensors which provide alerts to the wearer for things such as phone notifications in the same way as a smartwatch. When this detachable tag is removed, the rest of the garment is washable.
A touch sensitive panel on the left arm of the jacket can be tapped or swiped to control music, answer or reject calls and respond to notifications. This interactive fibre has a Bluetooth transceiver that can be connected to a smartphone. The jacket can be charged via USB and there will be an accompanying mobile app allowing the wearer to sync their data with other ‘smart’ clothes.
Watch out for the next issue of WSA, which will take a closer look at the latest developments in e-textiles.
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