Levi's Smart Jacket (It's the end of the world as we know it . . . and I DO NOT feel fine)

[Superfluous]

This just in: Hanes is releasing boxers that can access and vet Tinder listings based on the wearer's physiological response to the listing. The boxers will also remind the wearer when to ingest Viagra.

 

[ton312]

This just in: Hanes is releasing boxers that can access and vet Tinder listings based on the wearer's physiological response to the listing. The boxers will also remind the wearer when to ingest Viagra.

LOL...Brilliant!

 

[Monitor]

Still sounds like something that'd sell more than the stupid denim jacket with cables. Having never owned a smartphone, wonders of Tinder remain a mystery to me. Then again, not even Tinder could help me out...

 

[Edward]

Retro clothing forum balks at futurist clothing concept. Go figure.

"We interrupt this important story with breaking news agouty the defecatory habits of bears in forested areas...."

I don't mind futuristic stuff. I'd be the first in line for useful electronic implants that would actually improve my life (hell, I'd transplant my brain into an android body if it was possible) and complaining about futuristic concepts on a computer connected to the internet is hilarious in its own right but this particular idea is actually a step back! Like I said, you can tell your phone to reject a call from your boss. You don't need to touch it. Or the jacket.

Tell you what, I'd like to have my brain in a nice, little, self-contained module that could be transported between several different bodies, each best designed for key activities. At least one of them would be a cat.

Purpose of the likes of this device is, of course, key: certain things can be done with the phone, but if a piece of clothing appeals to people who would either be glued to a screen in traffic.... (Aside from the sort of moron I mentioned I encountered this morning, here in the UK the handheld phone driving ban extends to a motorcyclist who touches the screen of a GPS device attached to his handlebars while riding. I can see plenty of potential applications for wearables - but cdertainly, just hanging around they seem superfluous.

...and I am absolutely convinced that Google Glass, as a concept, is the future. We all use this technology in literally every electronic device today, yet Google Glass is somehow bad. Google Glass a crappy product because at the moment it doesn't really know what it wants to be and where it wants to go, but the concept as such is literally the future of mankind and an AR HUD as such will inevitably become a permanent addition to everyone's life, just as cellphones are now (which also saw the same amount of criticism and literally the exact same concerns at the time).
People walking around with their necks bent while dragging fingers over tiny screens is a concept from hell. It's so ancient, obsolete and wrong that I can't believe it still didn't disappear.

Google glass would be wonderful for walking tours once it improves enough: I'd love to be able to see historic places overlaid with images from the past, and on-screen information about buildings as I looked at them. Not all the time, no - but again, certain applications.... Could be great to have a satnav in a pair of goggles on the bike, for instance....

I agree with Monitor that there may be some work/sports related applications where that would be desirable, but the whole point of everyday clothes is 'to look good' (isn't it?) not to be 'on the bleeding edge'.

Well, that's subjective, isn't it? The original purpose of clothes, when we first came down from the trees and realised we were naked, was not much more than warmth and protection from the elements. (Not even keeping us dry: most clothes are rubbish in rain; the human body itself dries off very quickly and easily.) Pockets evolved as a way of carrying stuff without needing to use our hands or a separate bag. How they looked came later. For that matter, I know plenty of guys, most of them computer programmers by trade, who genuinely care nothing for clothes beyond not being cold and/or arrested. Course, for many people how they look matters - either because they seek the acceptance of following fashion, or because they wish to make a statement, tribal or otherwise, about who they are, and so on. Then, of course, there were also uniforms, which were designed to signify allegiance, authority, and all sorts. Doesn't seem a stretch to think that clothes could evolve yet further purposes. Being 'cutting edge' can be a fashion thing in and of itself, and so in part about looking good, though equally if these wearables have a practical purpose, then that's something distinct from the looks. It's going to be interesting seeing what develops. At least this jacket in the OP looks better than a calculator digital watch. (and what's a watch or any sort if not, ultimately, wearable tech?).

And with all 'cutting edge' technologies, it'll be 'old hat' 6 months from launch, so yeah, on second thoughts, that'd suit mall fashion cycles perfectly! I predict it'll catch on (as much as people can be bothered to buy a new laptop or phone every 6 months).

Certainly very plausible: if they can get it down enough in price that a chunk of the market who do buy the latest gadget as early adopters, then that would be a very profitable market. I don't care for Apple, but you have to acknowledge how well they have managed brand loyalty for a long time (with the odd misstep, of course). The most impressive thing I saw them pull off was the original iPad: people queuing up at midnight outside the Apple store to buy something that even then they didn't really know what it was - ereader, tablet, w.h.y.

@the bartender editing my post, I was kidding.[/QUOTE]

:thu: Not always easy to spot online. Maybe we need wearables that pick up the wearer's mood and auto-insert emoticons to indicate intended tone. Somebody call the Zara design department!

This just in: Hanes is releasing boxers that can access and vet Tinder listings based on the wearer's physiological response to the listing. The boxers will also remind the wearer when to ingest Viagra.

It's not inconceivable. The one thing we can be certain of is that whatever the next revolution in consumer entertainment tech is, it will be pioneered by the pornography industry. But for the porn industry, we wouldn't have Netflix now. Or ecommerce.

 

[Edward]

Still sounds like something that'd sell more than the stupid denim jacket with cables. Having never owned a smartphone, wonders of Tinder remain a mystery to me. Then again, not even Tinder could help me out...

I wonder if anyone thought of an electrically-heated Irvin at a 'stupid jacket with cables' at a time.... heh.

Here's a good use for tech, though: how about an electronic bug you could fit inside an expensive leather jacket and set to recognise the real owner, and set off an alarm if anyone else tried to pull it on and run off with it....?

 

[Monitor]

I wonder if anyone thought of an electrically-heated Irvin at a 'stupid jacket with cables' at a time.... heh.

Here's a good use for tech, though: how about an electronic bug you could fit inside an expensive leather jacket and set to recognise the real owner, and set off an alarm if anyone else tried to pull it on and run off with it....?

Oh, heated jacket is a great thing. Nobody thinks of heated MC jackets and vests as stupid even today, I'm sure. Lame, perhaps, but it's a nice idea. It won't reject a call from your boss but it'll keep you warm on a fixed gear bike with no brakes and pedals that have straps.

 

[Benny Holiday]

Given market interest, economics and technological refinement, in roughly 70 years or so your average urban sophisticate will no longer have a wardrobe or closet to hold racks of clothing, but will instead have a simple nanotech domain pad built into the floor, or wall, of their bedroom. The pad will hold a mass of nanobots and molecular building materials made of polyester fibers coated with millions of silicone filaments. Mr or Ms Sophisticate will stand on the pad and issue instructions to the home gateway computer, via voice command or virtual telepathy, for the nanobots to 'knit' garments around them from a selection of designs downloaded from electronic retail sites.

Each nanobot will then be programmed with the final clothing design and set into motion. The process will begin with each nanobot organising and categorising each building molecule, based on the aggregate material needed and where each piece will be located in the finished product. The nanobots – also called "foglets" – will then begin interlocking with themselves, forming a basic "frame" on which building molecules can be attached. As more and more nanobots and molecules are added on, thousands of individual fibres begin to form out of the machine's surface. These grow up and around the person's body, crossing each other to create a weave pattern, before finally taking the shape of traditional clothing. The result is a basic structure around which nanobots then construct the more advanced and customised features. Depending on the outfit's function, the original fibres will be interlaced with photovoltaics, piezoelectric nanowire, carbon nanotubes, metamaterials, claytronics or any number of other useful materials. Tiny electronic devices can be added for communication or medical purposes.

The whole process will be completed in a matter of seconds. With such detail and control, fabric of this nature will confer on the wearer an array of conveniences. Complete wardrobes will no longer be necessary, since one garment can perform the function of many, transforming into an endless variety of styles and shapes. Most outfits are self-cleaning, self-fragrancing and rarely if ever need to be washed. They can instantly adjust themselves in emergencies – becoming harder than steel to stop a knife or bullet; cushion-like in the event of accidents or falls. If a person is injured, the fabric can administer life-saving drugs and medical nanobots, or contract to seal a wound. Fire-fighters and other rescue workers are completely protected from hazards such as fire or radiation. The technology will also be useful in space, protecting people from sudden changes in air pressure, micrometeorites, cosmic rays and other hazards. Medical devices included in a person's outfit can monitor for disease at all times, catching the earliest signs of cancer or infection and alerting the wearer before any damage is done - although in most cases full-scan biomedical sensors will be built into a home's laser pulse washer stall anyway. Whatever power is needed for the various functions will be supplied by a combination of piezoelectric and photovoltaic components embedded throughout the clothing material.

 

[ton312]

Given market interest, economics and technological refinement, in roughly 70 years or so your average urban sophisticate will no longer have a wardrobe or closet to hold racks of clothing, but will instead have a simple nanotech domain pad built into the floor, or wall, of their bedroom. The pad will hold a mass of nanobots and molecular building materials made of polyester fibers coated with millions of silicone filaments. Mr or Ms Sophisticate will stand on the pad and issue instructions to the home gateway computer, via voice command or virtual telepathy, for the nanobots to 'knit' garments around them from a selection of designs downloaded from electronic retail sites.

Each nanobot will then be programmed with the final clothing design and set into motion. The process will begin with each nanobot organising and categorising each building molecule, based on the aggregate material needed and where each piece will be located in the finished product. The nanobots – also called "foglets" – will then begin interlocking with themselves, forming a basic "frame" on which building molecules can be attached. As more and more nanobots and molecules are added on, thousands of individual fibres begin to form out of the machine's surface. These grow up and around the person's body, crossing each other to create a weave pattern, before finally taking the shape of traditional clothing. The result is a basic structure around which nanobots then construct the more advanced and customised features. Depending on the outfit's function, the original fibres will be interlaced with photovoltaics, piezoelectric nanowire, carbon nanotubes, metamaterials, claytronics or any number of other useful materials. Tiny electronic devices can be added for communication or medical purposes.

The whole process will be completed in a matter of seconds. With such detail and control, fabric of this nature will confer on the wearer an array of conveniences. Complete wardrobes will no longer be necessary, since one garment can perform the function of many, transforming into an endless variety of styles and shapes. Most outfits are self-cleaning, self-fragrancing and rarely if ever need to be washed. They can instantly adjust themselves in emergencies – becoming harder than steel to stop a knife or bullet; cushion-like in the event of accidents or falls. If a person is injured, the fabric can administer life-saving drugs and medical nanobots, or contract to seal a wound. Fire-fighters and other rescue workers are completely protected from hazards such as fire or radiation. The technology will also be useful in space, protecting people from sudden changes in air pressure, micrometeorites, cosmic rays and other hazards. Medical devices included in a person's outfit can monitor for disease at all times, catching the earliest signs of cancer or infection and alerting the wearer before any damage is done - although in most cases full-scan biomedical sensors will be built into a home's laser pulse washer stall anyway. Whatever power is needed for the various functions will be supplied by a combination of piezoelectric and photovoltaic components embedded throughout the clothing material.

Sign me up for the cross zip Benny. With top of "sleeve" zip bots. And moutonobot detachable collar.

 

[Benny Holiday]

No good for guys like us, Tony. It'll look and feel like leather, heck, it'll even smell like leather . . . but it won't be. Not that I suppose we'll need to worry about it. Our great grandkids, sure.

 

[Guppy]

I don't mind futuristic stuff. I'd be the first in line for useful electronic implants that would actually improve my life (hell, I'd transplant my brain into an android body if it was possible) and complaining about futuristic concepts on a computer connected to the internet is hilarious in its own right but this particular idea is actually a step back! Like I said, you can tell your phone to reject a call from your boss. You don't need to touch it. Or the jacket.

To be honest, I don't either. I'm a programmer, I am using a computer nearly the entire waking day. I hang out with hackers. I like stuff that's good, old and new. There's been a lot of experiments with wearable computers for the last 20 or so years, eventually someone's going to hit the right formula and do something that the buying public wants. It's a lot of fun to live in the future, and getting to see all this stuff happening.

 

[Monitor]

Sign me up for the cross zip Benny. With top of "sleeve" zip bots. And moutonobot detachable collar.

I'd skip on that. Nanobots are probably gonna be pre-programmed to deal with stress of wear so you can forget about your jacket ever showing creases, patina and undertones. Maybe you could take the thing to someone to hack them not to do that but...

 

[ton312]

I work in IT as well. Honestly I don't necessarily like what I see. It's making people incredibly lazy. In their work (under the guise of productivity!) and their social lives. And don't get me started on the impact on kids. On the one hand I'm a pusher and on the other, I feel like whispering "go back".

 

[ton312]

I'd skip on that. Nanobots are probably gonna be pre-programmed to deal with stress of wear so you can forget about your jacket ever showing creases, patina and undertones. Maybe you could take the thing to someone to hack them not to do that but...

What. No CXLBOT?

 

[Doctor Damage]

 

[Doctor Damage]

Bergh showed off a few capabilities of the current Google-powered jacket on stage. He swiped his sleeve to tell the time, and another swipe gave him navigation directions. The jacket uses a conductive fiber that was developed as part of Google Advanced Technology and Product group's Project Jacquard. It's meant primarily as a jacket for cyclists, so they don't need to look at a screen when riding. "We've come up with a solution so people aren't constantly taking phones out of their pocket," he said.

Apparently, one of the jacket's "capabilities" is it can only be washed 10 times, or maybe it's another Levi's Smart Jacket. Whatever. It's a way to separate people from their money.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/sep/26/jacquard-google-levis-smart-jacket-denim

 

[Doctor Damage]

I work in IT as well. Honestly I don't necessarily like what I see. It's making people incredibly lazy. In their work (under the guise of productivity!) and their social lives. And don't get me started on the impact on kids. On the one hand I'm a pusher and on the other, I feel like whispering "go back".

I sometimes think the goal is to make people lazy and dependent on tech reminding them and guiding them and, ultimately, thinking for them, so they can be eased out of the workplace and won't realize they've been replaced by an a.i. until it's too late. I look forward to initiating all those coders and programmers into the underclass when they're permanently de-hired too.

 

[ton312]

The irony of the entire thing is that, somehow, the use of technology to automate or streamline a process, is associated with a higher level of sophistication. I see the opposite as being true. The rules certainly aren't hard and fast...but working in a school, if the internet goes down...people panic. Real panic and render themselves useless. And yet I grew up and came thru my college career (largely) without it. My fear is the balance will be lost and lost willingly,without understanding what is at stake.

 

[ton312]

On another note...it's an ugly ass jacket.

 

[GHT]

On another note...it's an ugly ass jacket.

Ain't that so. If this thread had been posted on The Denim Jackets - New or Vintage thread, your description would have been highlighted, perfectly.

 

[Benny Holiday]

The irony of the entire thing is that, somehow, the use of technology to automate or streamline a process, is associated with a higher level of sophistication. I see the opposite as being true. The rules certainly aren't hard and fast...but working in a school, if the internet goes down...people panic. Real panic and render themselves useless. And yet I grew up and came thru my college career (largely) without it. My fear is the balance will be lost and lost willingly,without understanding what is at stake.

I can use the tech as a useful tool, but my 13-year-old daughter will, if allowed, sit on the computer/ipad/phone all day and all night, like a blue-light zombie. My opinion, limited by what I see in my own experience, is that the tech-social revolution has advanced so quickly that people haven't had time to gradually adjust to what can be done, and haven't stopped to consider the social ramifications. If misused, it can be McDonalds for the brain (or the opiate of the masses?).