Google’s wearable tech collaboration with Levi’s, the Jacquard denim
jacket, which uses a touch-sensitive cuff and conductive thread to connect
users to their Android phones, scooped the Grand Prix for product design at
the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
Created by Google Creative Labs in London and Levi’s, the jacket marks
the first ever smart garment with Jacquard by Google technology woven in,
and aims to allow the wearer to stay connected, give directions, provide
information on nearby places, even change your music and answer calls, by
tapping the touch-sensitive cuff.
Targeting urban bike commuters, the smart jacket has been made possible
due to the development of new “conductive yarns” that combine metallic
alloys with natural synthetic yarns such as cotton, silk and polyester.
The jacket has been in development for a year and is scheduled for
release in beta form this autumn with a wider release planned for spring
2017.
Cannes Lions festival takes place over eight days and are the most
coveted prizes in the creative, advertising and technology community. This
year’s event in the south of France also attracted speakers including Anna
Wintour and Christopher Bailey.
Image: courtesy of Google