Future fashion: Google's Bluetooth jacket, only 10 times warranty

The famous fashion firm Levi's is planning to launch the first special jacket product that incorporates Google technology inside to control the user's smartphone . And this technology is guaranteed within 10 washes.

Levi's new Commuter Trucker jacket of $ 350 is designed to act as a device controller by incorporating Jacquard technology. This is Google's special technology, to help denim fabric conduct electricity and receive signals from users.

Picture 1 of Future fashion: Google's Bluetooth jacket, only 10 times warranty
The Levi's branded Bluetooth jacket in conjunction with Google's Jacquard technology will be a breakthrough of the future.

Google's technical director, Ivan Poupyrev, said: "With Jacquard, you can perform common digital tasks such as playing or stopping playing music, navigating or reading text messages, simply by claw or touch the sleeve of the jacket ".

This jacket can "read" user movements through a transmission element when you touch the sleeve, which will transmit these movements through Jacquard reaction technology. This is a removable Bluetooth USB device, attached to a jacket and must be recharged to be usable. Signal transceivers have a feature that prompts users when mobile devices have new notifications, through light and tactile feedback. This device is water resistant, particularly in the case of rain. Also, you should not wash this device directly.

However, you can clean this jacket, just do not wash too often. So, as Poupyrev suggested, Commuter Trucker probably won't suit people who are sweating.

Google said: "The design of this jacket allows users to be washed 10 times after having removed the Jacquard device, however, the quality of this technology may change later, depending on the conditions. use and washing ".

Users can also dry clothes at low temperatures, as long as the transceiver card is removed. However, Google recommends exposing your jacket to natural conditions, warning not to iron your left wrist or dry it with this part.

Gestures

Commuter Trucker collar currently supports 4 gestures: swipe from bottom to top, swipe from top to bottom, double press and cover sleeves. These movements are associated with three types of actions, which involve adjusting the volume, navigating or timing through the Jacquard application. This collar acts as a remote control with certain limited features for the mobile phone in your pocket, integrated with both Android and iOS.

Picture 2 of Future fashion: Google's Bluetooth jacket, only 10 times warranty
Users who manipulate directly on the cuffs and Jacquard will capture these movements.

For situations where users cannot use the phone or voice commands for the phone, or when you want to notify the message to display by light instead of vibrating, the Commuter Trucker jacket will be a competent assistant. And of course if you remember to charge it fully.

Many people might wonder why they didn't design a wrist-mounted Bluetooth device for about $ 30 or something similar, capable of interacting with the phone in their pocket, instead. because designing a Levi's brand jacket for $ 148 with the same function? This will definitely make washing much more convenient.

"This Jacquard project shows, technology companies are looking to expand the surface area of ​​the user interface, so that they are not limited to a small size screen," said Mark Hung, an expert. Gartner's analysis said in an interview with The Register channel.

Hung said that the limitation in using this product is not necessarily a bad thing if the jacket can do its best."If you look from a technological perspective, this product is a breakthrough , " he said. "If you look from a user interface perspective, this is a step in the right direction."

Picture 3 of Future fashion: Google's Bluetooth jacket, only 10 times warranty
Commuter Trucker probably won't suit people who are sweating.

A device that controls smartphones can be attached to clothes more convenient than wearing smart watches.
Within the next thousand years, people began to hesitate to wear watches. However, "With technology like Jacquard, you absolutely can attach it to the clothes you wear."

Gartner said sales with wearable or wearable devices increased by 17% in 2017, especially Bluetooth headsets and smart watches. For clothes that connect devices, this may take a little longer.