The Next Generation of Smart Clothes
Recently, some media outlets picked up on a rather bizarre story – the story of Juan Murdoch, a regular dad living with his 6 kids in Idaho, USA. With half a dozen kids at home, Juan was constantly looking for ways to make parenting easier, and he thinks he’s found it – ‘Smart’ Pajamas. Designed up in his Idaho home with the help of a local developer, Juan created these kid’s PJs, each set displaying 47 QR codes – the same type you find on adverts at the bus stop or in magazines. However, instead of the codes taking you to advertising for fast food eateries, they instruct the smartphone or tablet to begin reading bedtime stories.
Although ‘Juan Murdoch’ isn’t quite a household name yet, there is one big shot fashion designer who’s also entered into the world of wearable technology. Believe it or not, it’s Ralph Lauren – this 75 year-old who would have been amazed by the invention of duct tape, Lego, and tupperware as a child, is now revolutionizing the tech industry! The Ralph Lauren ‘Polo Tech’ shirt, due to hit the shelves in 2015, is anticipated to behave much like a workout monitor, except it’s all built right into the shirt, with no need to wear an additional device.
Is Wearable Technology Here to Stay?
Many people are asking whether wearable technology is here long term, or if it’s just a fleeting interest. Although only time will tell, there is enough backing of the notion to suggest it may hang around for a while. The idea is of particularly interest to those in the medical field, for example, who claim that ‘enhancing the quality of life through wearable technology’ is entirely possible. While we are yet to see advancements in the area, scientists are starting to get very excited about the possibilities, believing that this sort of technology could reduce instances of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in babies, or assist the elderly with living a safer, more independent lifestyle.
The Realities
Wearable technology certainly sounds like a good thing, but let’s not be blinded by the hype. We do, of course, have to consider the realities of such technology, with the main question being – can you wash it? Currently, both Smart Pajamas and the Polo Tech Shirt claim to be washable – even using the washing machine – just be sure to check the washing symbols on the label for details on optimal washing temperatures. How is this possible? While we don’t know exactly what type of waterproofing these items of clothing are using, we are starting to see more and more options readily available, and they’re being produced for this exact purpose. There’s a nifty new product, for example, called WaterBlock, which applies ‘nanocoatings’ to internal electronics, promising ‘protection from the inside out’. With these sorts of advancements happening all the time, it looks like laundry isn’t something we’ll need to be too worried about.
[Photo credit: COM Salud - flickr]
