Interactive Ware AG: Clothing with GPS Built In

Interactive Ware AG is showing off its “wearable electronics” at CeBIT this week. Says the CEO:

In this way – together with our technology partners – we optimize, for instance, sensors, keypads, MP3 players, video cameras, GPS systems, speakers, microphones, power supplies and many other components to meet the special requirements of textile integration. ...The overall system that has been integrated into the garment has been miniaturized and is up to 30% lighter than standalone solutions. It can be worn comfortably and unpretentiously, and it is easy to operate, protected, and safe (which makes it less susceptible to problems) – and it is practically “impossible to lose.”

Of most interest to our community is the Know Where jacket (get it?). The jacket includes “a cellular phone, an mp3 player, headphones, a microphone and a water-tight and impact-resistant sleeve keypad as well as an emergency call button, all the electronics have been integrated for a terminal that is referred to as a “GPS eye,” which is used for determining and transmitting positional data.” The company touts that it can use “GPSoverIP” (new one on me!) to locate individuals indoors. The company sees the jacket used in sports, safety and medical apps.

The other two products described include embedded video cameras (capture that downhill ski run) and video projectors (show the airline mechanic how to replace that bolt). These are indeed interesting times.