At the SxSW conference, Levi’s and Google are showing off a smart jacket that they say will go on sale this fall for around $350. It looks like a classic trucker jacket, but the cuff of the left sleeve is an “invisible” touchpad crafted with smart yarn. Users will be able to swipe or tap on the jacket in order to control their smartphones, for example, by starting or stopping music, getting messages, answering calls, etc.
Ars Technica says, “Google is still working out how third-party developers will come onto the platform.” However, mobile development firms, particularly those with Android apps, could have the option to add smart jacket support to their apps as soon as September.