Thoraiya DyerIn the future: T-Shirts that Think
November 30th 2006 08:11
filed under FREEWARE FUTURE
Recently, Philips have exhibited their glowing Lumalive shirts and glowing fabrics in their techno show. Wearing the glowing shirts is obviously not a means to conceal oneself and protect one's privacy. But this has shown us how our clothes have become "‘third generation’ textiles, which take advantage of electronics, nanotechnology, biotechnology, and even AI.
These third-gen textiles are nothing like the invisibility cloak, but they're the smarter kind. Why? One, they can be controlled and programmed electronically, whether in color or design. Two, they adapt intuitively to temperatures. Three, they can be fitted with wearable computers such as bluetooth phones or GPS devices.
Electric Plaid from IFM is a perfect example. The intelligent and interactive fibers are made up of woven electronic circuits, color-change inks and drive electronics which can be used in home decoration, artworks, and even on your regular handbag design.
On a more practical level, these smart fabrics are now being used on artificial skin and bio-prosthetic limbs and organs, and as protective camouflage uniform and gear for combat soldiers.
It makes we wonder, will biometric recognition invade our privacy eventually, rendering these smart fabrics and metamaterials useless? And if it does, would it be a lesser evil compared to online intrusion?
(If there's anything private we've yet to protect in the future, it's when our closest buddy happily publishes a Youtube video of us while we were dozing off on the floor, drooling, and screaming "Shoot it now! Shoot it now!")
Next:
Online Privacy Intrusion: Is there a way out?
LINKS
futureforall.org
http://www.darpa.mil/DSO/thrust/matdev/metamaterials/index.html
http://www.ifmachines.com/eplaid.html
http://www.expresstextile.com/20030911/itintextiles01.shtml
http://youtube.com/watch?v=TG8PawwwD6c
Recently, Philips have exhibited their glowing Lumalive shirts and glowing fabrics in their techno show. Wearing the glowing shirts is obviously not a means to conceal oneself and protect one's privacy. But this has shown us how our clothes have become "‘third generation’ textiles, which take advantage of electronics, nanotechnology, biotechnology, and even AI.
These third-gen textiles are nothing like the invisibility cloak, but they're the smarter kind. Why? One, they can be controlled and programmed electronically, whether in color or design. Two, they adapt intuitively to temperatures. Three, they can be fitted with wearable computers such as bluetooth phones or GPS devices.
Electric Plaid from IFM is a perfect example. The intelligent and interactive fibers are made up of woven electronic circuits, color-change inks and drive electronics which can be used in home decoration, artworks, and even on your regular handbag design.
On a more practical level, these smart fabrics are now being used on artificial skin and bio-prosthetic limbs and organs, and as protective camouflage uniform and gear for combat soldiers.
It makes we wonder, will biometric recognition invade our privacy eventually, rendering these smart fabrics and metamaterials useless? And if it does, would it be a lesser evil compared to online intrusion?
(If there's anything private we've yet to protect in the future, it's when our closest buddy happily publishes a Youtube video of us while we were dozing off on the floor, drooling, and screaming "Shoot it now! Shoot it now!")
Next:
Online Privacy Intrusion: Is there a way out?
futureforall.org
http://www.darpa.mil/DSO/thrust/matdev/metamaterials/index.html
http://www.ifmachines.com/eplaid.html
http://www.expresstextile.com/20030911/itintextiles01.shtml
http://youtube.com/watch?v=TG8PawwwD6c
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