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Additionally, XS Labs, a design research studio in Canada, focuses on the development and design of
electronic textiles, responsive clothing, wearable technologies and reactive materials, considered in a
social and cultural context [92].
Their target is the design of digital and electronic technology that is composed of soft materials such
as textiles and yarns, as well as predicated on traditional textile construction methods to create
interactive physical designs. It involves the use of conductive yarns and fabrics, active materials, and
flexible sensors to enable the construction of electronic circuits on soft substrates. They created
garments like a blazer with an emissive display, or a ‘SoundSleeve’ out of organic silk organza and
conductive yarns that can be used as an instrument.
Fig. 36 ‘SoundSleeve’
On the picture, the ‘SoundSleeve’ is depicted, that is sensitive to physical contacts. When the user
flexes or crosses his/her arms, a sound is synthesised within the sleeves and output through miniature
flat speakers. The circuit board that connects all the elements is stitched on the fabric [93].
Further, the Charmed Technology Company in Los Angeles is an MIT Media Lab spin-off and is
specialised in incorporating the unwired internet into fashion products [94].
The Levi’s Musical Jean Jacket, created by researchers at the MIT Media lab, is a system that uses a
stainless steel and polyester composite thread to embroider a keypad. It is flexible, durable and highly
responsive to touch allowing the user to play notes, chords and rhythms. A printed circuit board
supports the components necessary to do capacitive sensing and output keypress events as a serial
data stream. The circuit board makes contact with the electrodes at the circular pads only at the
bottom of the electrode pattern. In a test application, 50 denim jackets were embroidered in this
pattern. Some of these jackets are equipped with miniature MIDI synthesizers controlled by the
keypad.
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