I wrote several times in this space about wearable computers and 'smart' clothing (Check "Chic Gear to Suit Net Generation" for example).
Julia Fields wrote a very well-documented article on the subject for the Edinburgh Evening News, "Tech out the latest in fashion." Here is her introduction.
In the lead-up to the millennium, scientists and retailers alike promised to revolutionise our wardrobes with "smart" clothing that would do everything from deliver a massage and improve your golf swing to change colour according to the weather.
Fields spoke with Professor George Stylios from the Heriot-Watt University School of Textiles and Design.
[He] announced that his team are about a year away from trialling clothing that could ultimately save lives. They are working on a vest that will monitor a patient’s heart rate, blood pressure and other vital signs and sound the alarm if it senses a problem. Tiny sensors printed on the fabric would allow doctors to monitor patients without having to keep them in hospital. The technology would transmit data to a doctor’s computer or even the central hospital system.
Prof. Stylios is convinced that this kind of technology will make its debut in the medical arena. "We focused on healthcare because there is a huge demand from insurance companies, hospitals, doctors to give patients a better quality of life.
"If we were a commercial company, maybe we would do a gimmicky quick fix and put an MP3 player in a jacket. But to do it properly, you will need a lot of money. People are willing to spend money to save lives. As the technology becomes more mature, we will see it going into fashion.
"This technology isn’t going to go away. In 20 or 30 years, computers, telephones, and televisions will become part of our intimate clothing."
Fields also lists several other projects of interest. Read her article for more information and visit the Wear Me at IEE Eurowearable '03 for more illustrations.
Now, it's time to start our fashion show.
Designed by Elise Co [at the MIT Media Laboratory], the Puddlejumper is a luminescent yellow-hooded jacket. Painted on its surface are several electroluminescent lamps wired to interior electronics. Water sensors are placed on the jacket’s back and left sleeve. When it rains, the lamps light up, creating a flickering pattern that mirrors the pitter-patter of rain. Here is the Puddlejumper at work (Photo credit: Wear Me).
Also designed at the MIT by Megan Galbraith, Elroy is "an illuminating dress that encodes time information. The panels periodically reaarrange their illuminated pattern to express time to the wearer."
"Elroy is constructed out of a Panasonic EL element, a Rabbit2000 microprocessor, polyester fabric, and one of Nik's prototype boards for specter. Here is one of the photos of Elroy ((Photo credit: Megan Galbraith, MIT Media Lab).
Next time you catch a plane (if you're a woman), why not trying this airplane dress, from Hussein Chalayan? This is "an airplane dress that changes shape by remote control. The dress is made using glass fibre, a material more usually associated with the airplane industry." (Photo credit: Wear Me)
Here is another dress designed by Adeline André, ScentOrgan. Your "veins and arteries act as an interactive cabling system emitting one scent. The objective is for the wearer to create their own personal 'smell bubble', by delivering a spray of magic wellness molecules to key points of the body in order to activate the smell centre." (Photo credit: Wear Me)
There is also the Burton Amp jacket, from snowboarding company Burton in collaboratio with Apple, which allows riders to blast their favourite music while simultaneously racing down the slopes. Here is how looks the control panel on the jacket's sleeve (Credit: SOFTswitch Ltd.).
"Philips Labs, at Redhill in Surrey, are currently designing clothes that keep you warm in the cold and cool in the heat by responding to the body’s shivering." Here are photographs of researchers at Philips, demonstrating the technology device that allows for online monitoring of body signals, when integrated in wearable garments, such as a women's bra (Photo Copyright Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.). Larger pictures are available here.
And there are many other projects, like the Silversock from Carnation Footcare, which is designed to keep you feet warm and free of bad odour. Once again, read the original article for more information.
Sources: Julia Fields, Edinburgh Evening News, October 8, 2003; Wear Me at IEE Eurowearable '03 website
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