Just when you thought Google came up with everything. Just when we think Google has permeated every market. They shock us again.
Google is teaming up with jean and denim maker Levi’s to create a smart jacket. Aimed at cyclists, this smart jacket will let you control music, utilize phone calls, navigate with a system, and many of the other things you can do with a smartphone or smartwatch. All they have to do is tap or swipe the jacket sleeve. This super jacket is part of Project Jacquard. This project is dedicated to weaving technology in forms of clothes. The alliance between Levi and Google is around a year old, but they just revealed this revolutionary piece of technology for the first time. They’re aiming this fashion statement toward cyclists because it can be very dangerous to to be holding a smartphone while operating a bicycle. The results can be almost as bad as texting and driving a car. But with this jacket, they just tap and talk. A Jacquard tag is sewn in the sleeve and charged through USB. The embedded tags are connected to a battery, LED and haptic technology, all woven in this jacket. Makers insists you can wash this jacket in the washer and it won’t be harmed.
Testing will go into the next phase in fall 2016. If all goes well, it should be in stores near you in spring 2017. We don’t know how much this jacket will cost. Yes, this is a great safety alternative for cyclists. It would make a great fashion statement. But this wearable jacket is fascinating and a little terrifying. It’s terrifying because someone can probably track you through this jacket. I know we can easily be tracked already, but this would make it even easier. Would you get this smart jacket? How much would you pay for one?