Now Levi’s has announced the first commercial product based on Google’s Project Jacquard technology.
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Imagine swiping on your left arm while wearing Levi’s jacket in order to turn up the sound in a music app, or gesturing to get information about your commute in a maps app. Because the Commuter jacket was designed as a biking jacket, you’ll be able to perform these gestures and still safely ride. Google and Levi’s haven’t said how much the jacket will cost, but it seems likely to be more expensive than Levi’s current Commuter jackets, which retail for more than US$100.
Fashion and tech collaborations are nothing new, but Google and Levi’s have managed to put their own unique spin on the category by introducing a first-of-its-kind product: a connected jacket. Its intelligent functionality is powered by a rechargeable digital clip that attaches to the jacket’s cuff. ” Google’s experimental unit, Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP), produced Project Jacquard, the technology behind the jacket’s interactive fibers”. That smart tag can be removed when you are ready to wash your jacket. Today we learned a little more about the first fruits of the partnership; a specially-woven jacket that can control your smartphone via gestures. This year, the two have announced that the Jacquard jacket will soon be available for sale.
Google said it has plans for Jacquard beyond cycling, including smart clothing lines for athletes and for the workplace.
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While Levi’s Commuter jacket will be available in the Spring of 2017, Google says the Jacquard platform will be open to any clothing manufacturer that wants to implement Google’s gesture-sensing fabric into its clothes. You might also see athletic and business wear that incorporates the sensors in the near future.
