Google’s Project Jacquard is tackling the age old gap between controlling your electronic device and touching yourself. They are doing this by weaving conductive thread into clothing in the form of a touch pad. In partnership with Levi Strauss & Co., Google has been designing and producing touch interfaces that are meant to be used by developers however they see fit.
The approach that Project Jacquard has taken from a hardware standpoint is on point. Rather than having an end user product in mind and design completely towards that goal, the project is focused on the interface as its product. This has the added benefit of endless varieties of textile interface possibilities. As stated in the video embedded after the break, the conductive touch interface can be designed as a visibly noticeable difference in material or seamlessly woven into a garment.
As awesome as this new interface may seem there are some things to consider:
- Can an unintentional brush with another person “sleeve dial” your boss or mother-in-law?
- What are the implications of Google putting sensors in your jeans?
- At what point is haptic feedback inappropriate? and do we have to pay extra for that?
We’ve covered e-textiles before from a conductive thread and thru hole components approach to electro-mechanical implementations.
Can you wash clothes with this?
Most of the time, no. everything so far in wearable electronics has to be removed to wash it, and even the conductive thread deteriorates fast after a few washings. its why a lot of commercial things like heated clothing will let you velcro or zip out to remove the controls and heating section for washing. touch switches are more fad than anything else, you can easily put micro dome switches on a thin board that goes under the cloth or velcros on under regular embroidery for durability.
The future is stinky!
“Google’s Project Jacquard is tackling the age old gap between controlling your electronic device and touching yourself.”
Uh, phrasing?
seriosuly though, arent we doing phrasing anymore?
on another note, for wearables i think we have to include the human in the circuit (i know that technically most touch tech falls into this category), but if one had a known unique sine signal and actually ran that across the skin of the person (they are wearing the gadget to begin with), then one could “encrypt” against accidental touches.
Yes. It would be great to encrypt against “accidental” touches.
I’m sitting in a cubicle in my office. I just laughed so hard and loud. Thankfully the office is mostly empty. Thanks HAD! (But really, that was great phrasing!)
Details on the haptic feedback, can we have one for getting shot in fps?
http://korfx.com/
never tried one but it seems they fit the bill.
http://tngames.com/products
just buy one, they have existed for a while.
I’m getting the mental image of being able to kick people in the balls ~*via the internet.*~ The future is bright!
Bikini version.
>What are the implications of Google putting sensors in your jeans?
They can violate your privates as well as your privacy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHcDP_Yew-g
cue the DeVinyls