Article wrote during an internship at Design Exchange Magazine
By Julia Milet
Google never stops extending its capacities when it comes to technology.
Project Jacquard is a project which seeks to integrate interactivity and devices into materials such as textile. What is the most surprising about this project is the simplicity of this unexpected collaboration.
The project aims to create interactive clothes by using traditional industrial weaving machine where the only difference is that the threads are replaced by conductive threads.
“Jacquard yarns are indistinguishable from the traditional yarns that are used to produce fabrics today.”
The purpose of Project Jacquard is to woven interactive surfaces in order to become gesture-sensitive areas for endless technologic purposes, facilitating your everyday routine. Best part: the conductive threads are engineered to be as discreet as possible. The conductive yarns and circuits are described as tiny and efficient, having the ability to capture touch interactions and others. The gesture data is transmitted to a large range of devices and includes many functions.
The first partner that joined the project is Levi’s. The brand seems to be ideal for the project itself since it is internationally known for its perfect balance between design and performance.
“It has built this reputation over the past 150 years by continually designing and creating products that meet a consumer need.”
While they were crafting the first jeans back in 1800s for miners, today they are introducing an interactive jacket for urban cyclist. Working with Google, Levi’s seeks to add interactivity to their authentic manufactured denim.
From that point was born the Levi’s Commuter Trucker Jacket, specifically designed for cyclists. The jacket is directly connected to multiple services such as music or maps, in order to prevent cyclists to use their smartphones while riding their city bikes.
The jacket is to be released in 2017. Until then, stay safe.
JULIA MILET 