“Levi’s is the first of what Google hopes will be many fashion partners on the new technology that embeds touch sensors into clothing.” – Silicon Beat
The TeleRead take: The word is that if you tap or swipe, your mobile device can do such things as silencing a phone call or sending a text message. Is Project Jacquard progress in the long run? Or one more fun step toward forced cyborgdom for us all? You Tube is here.
The e-book angle: Oh, well, before we become cyborgs, maybe we can at least enjoy another interface for turning pages and navigational tasks (with pages projected into the air, perhaps).
Cautionary tale from CNET: Woman allegedly fired for deleting iPhone app that monitored her 24/7. She wasn’t a criminal, just a sales executive. But increasingly, in terms of intrusive employers and maybe governments, could lines blur between criminals and the rest of us? Yes, governments. The sensors in techno-fashion might not be so benign if the NSA types can hack your jeans. Fascinatingly, the sensors woven into clothing can be unknown to the wearers. Beware of strangers giving you jeans samples?
Long term, clothing sensors will help pave the way for embedded bio-sensors. We haven’t seen anything yet. I love tech and the better side of Google. But, really, really, I wish that company would focus more on the basics.
Related: Why can’t Google code? I’m all for driverless cars, but first, please fix my Chrome. How can I trust Google with my life on the road if Larry and Sergey can’t even get my browser right?
