The sight of spy clothes has been one of the central figures in Hollywood and the film industry's pop culture, in different genres of movies including action and sci-fi, but in the real world, it is being developed by the United States. The new clothing recently received a massive contract from the country, amounting to as much as $22 million in investment to create this advanced smart textile (AST).
Smart clothes have been in development before, one that is capable of taking in and recording data from its surroundings, providing its user the tech without the additional baggage to carry.
Spy Clothes? US Invests $22M for its Development
According to a press release from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the advanced smart textile is now in development under the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA). This so-called "SMART ePANTS" is a program from the US government that looks to develop AST with cameras, sensors, and wires that are woven directly into the fabric.
"IARPA is proud to lead this first-of-its-kind effort for both the IC and broader scientific community which will bring much-needed innovation to the field of ASTs," said Dr. Dawson Cagle, SMART ePANTS Program Manager.
IARPA is the advanced research and development leg of the ODNI, and more importantly, this office oversees the US Intelligence Community says Interesting Engineering.
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SMART ePANTS: Record Data with Clothes
The SMART ePANTS project can record data with its clothes, including capturing images, videos, and audio, as well as relay GPS information to the government. Moreover, the US is designing it to be like everyday clothes with electronics but would have no problem with everyday use including stretching, bending, and washing the fabric.
IARPA already awarded prime contracts to its partners including the SRI International, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Nautilus Defense, Leidos, Inc., and Areté.
Technology in Clothing?
Clothes have been one of the most important necessities among humans and even pets, as they bring fashion, culture, arts, and coverings for the body. However, instead of fulfilling its purpose of providing covers and protection to the skin, researchers and scientists took technology and embedded it among the fabric used to create clothes, turning these wearables into smart apparel.
While the latest developments are not that advanced yet, many entities and companies have already invested in developing these kinds of "smart fabric" including one of the most famous tech companies in the world, Apple.
Embedding technology into clothing has always been a significant trend, as seen in movies and adaptations, but not all are meant for spying or surveillance, as some are meant to assist those with disabilities.
Still, the potential of clothing to be developed with technology is massive, and it is something that has been growing in the industry of both tech and wearables. Now, the United States government has invested in smart textiles that can gather and record data by just wearing it, taking in images, videos, audio, and GPS information without the additional items to carry.
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