Google and Levi’s announced a partnership over a year ago. The companies were working on something based on Google’s Project Jacquard. It’s a jacket that looks like any other jacket but it does have a few tricks up its sleeve, literally. This Levi’s jacket actually has a smart sleeve. The Project Jacquard jacket is now finally available for purchase.
Jacquard was developed by Google’s Advanced Technology and Projects group. It’s a connected apparel platform which enables fashion designed and apparel manufacturers to integrate connectivity into their pieces.
The Levi’s Commuter Trucker Jacket is the first product that incorporates Jacquard. It will go on sale come Wednesday. The jacket is just like any regular denim jacket. It can be washed but do remember to remove the snap tag.
It’s durable and has been designed to be comfortable for cycling. Jacquard technology is built into the jacket’s sleeve. It can be used to perform common digital tasks such as playing or pausing music, getting directions, and reading incoming text messages by tapping or swiping the jacket’s sleeve.
This is made possible by the gesture-sensing Jacquard Threads that are woven into the cuff and connect wirelessly to the mobile device using tiny electronics embedded inside the sleeve and a flexible snap tag. The tag also notifies users about incoming calls or text messages with haptic feedback. The gestures on the sleeve are fully re-configurable using the Jacquard app.
The Levi’s Commuter Trucker Jacket with Jacquard by Google will be available for purchase in select shops starting Wednesday. It will be available in the U.S. at select Levi’s stores and the company’s online store starting next week. The jacket costs $350.
Filed in . Read more about Google and Wearable Tech. Source: blog.google