Google in pact with Levis to make connected jackets

Google's connected jacket is finally set to arrive later this year. The new 'Commuter Trucker Jacket', a product of its partnership with Levis, is pitched at urban bikers and deploys Google's Jacquard technology to makes the fabric, gesture controlled.

The project was announced in 2015 and is aimed at ''making it possible to weave touch and gesture interactivity into any textile using standard, industrial looms. Everyday objects such as clothes and furniture can be transformed into interactive surfaces.''

The jacket is said to be the first commercial product of Project Jacquard, a division within Google's Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) group.

The technology allows users to simply swipe on the cufflinks to answer calls, get directions, control music and perform other actions. However, to wash the jacket users need to remove the tag located inside the cufflinks.

Meanwhile, Google said in a statement,  ''Jacquard allows wearers to control their mobile experience and connect to a variety of services, such as music or maps, directly from the jacket. This is especially useful when it might be difficult to use the smartphone, like when you are riding on your bike.''

The Commuter Trucker Jacket was first announced at the Google I/O developer conference 2016, where the release date was announced as Spring 2017, it had now been pushed to the Fall 2017.

According to commentators, Google had been taking wearable tech more seriously recently.

Google and fashion brand H&M's digital fashion house Ivyrevel, recently announced they aimed to make data fashionable. The two companies are working on an Android app, which would create a 'Coded Couture' for a user based on their personal data.

With the app, the partnership aimed to offer a technology that would make merchandise for users, on the basis of their habits, needs and personality.