More than two years after Google and Levi’s announced they were working together on a smart clothing line, the Levi’s Commuter Trucker jacket is finally going on sale.
It features a smart ‘Jacquard’ fabric that enables users to control their smartphone using various gestures and a Bluetooth tag that relays information back to the connected device.
Wearers of the $350 denim garment can tap the square areas of woven fabric to play or pause a song, receive their next direction from Google Maps or receive the current time.
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Thanks to a subtle LED light and vibration tech built into the sleeve users can also see when they have incoming calls and text messages and respond accordingly without touching their phones.
Those forking out for the jacket can customise gestures within a brand new Jaacquard app.
Embedded tech
The jacket was designed primarily for urban cyclists and busy commuters who don’t want to have to pull their phone out of their pockets all of the time.
In a blog post on Monday, Google explains: “The technology that makes this possible is embedded in the jacket. Gesture-sensing Jacquard Threads are woven into the cuff and wirelessly connected to your mobile phone using tiny electronics embedded inside the sleeve and a flexible snap tag.
“The snap tag also notifies you about incoming phone calls or text messages¹ with light and haptic feedback. The gestures on the jacket cuff are fully re-configurable: using the Jacquard app you can assign gestures to invoke different digital “abilities” that were designed specifically for an on-the-go lifestyle.”
The company says it’ll be available to purchase online from Wednesday in the US and will be available in some Levi’s retail stores next week.
Would you buy the Google/Levi’s jacket? Or is it a case of wearable tech going too far? Let us know @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
