Big Words: Wearable Technology #14
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Wearable Technology:
Modern technology, as it progresses, is becoming smaller and closer to the body. The physical distance between computing devices and humans is diminishing, offering a variety of configurations that fundamentally bring them closer. For example, wearable technology, such as clothing, is an attractive platform for computing because it provides access to essential functions of the human body, allowing for the development of new services and use cases.
The goal is to take clothing and fashion to the next level, transforming them from passive artifacts into active tools infused with technology. Instead of being mere accessories for protection or social demonstration, clothing can be integrated with functionalities. In the first generation of products, our focus was understanding user needs and translating those functions into easy-to-access features.
Jacquard by Google
In the early stages of the Jacquard project, the concept was to reduce reliance on mobile phones and minimize distractions. The idea was to have the phone stored away, activating a smart jacket, bag, or shoe that becomes sensitive to user input. By incorporating woven smart fabric on a sleeve, users could control their phones with simple gestures, eliminating the need to take the phone out.
The smart fabric on the sleeve allowed for gestures like swipe, swipe up, swipe down, tap, and double tap. Additionally, the built-in electronics provided vibration and visual feedback for incoming calls, enabling users to accept or reject calls without removing the phone. The sleeve's universal patch could be programmed for various functions, such as controlling music, maps, or calendar appointments.
Looking ahead, the vision is to seamlessly connect garments to various devices, making the garment a universal controller for the surrounding technology. This integration would eliminate the need for additional controls beyond the garment, allowing users to interact with the world using gestures and behaviors.
Sources: Fashion Knowledge Podcast, E18: Physical AI, Jacquard & Wearable Tech with Ivan Poupyrev.
Contributor: Ivan Poupyrev.