14 ms·

Jacquard by Google

154 points by lgats 6y ago

cma 6y ago
Can't figure out what it is from the page. An accelerometer clip on for your shoes and sleeves? Something woven into some of the fabrics in one cutaway image, maybe strain sensors or touch sensors?
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
illumanaughty 6y ago
Cool! Can't wait until this gets shuttered mid-2022.
- jakogut 6y ago
  I definitely have an active aversion to integrating Google products into my life after being bitten by this several times.
- smnrchrds 6y ago
  It reminds me of Amazon Dash, so I think you are right.
- dang 6y ago
  It's time to retire this cliché on HN, not because it's untrue, but because it has become a mechanical reflex. "Please don't post shallow dismissals, especially of other people's work. A good critical comment teaches us something." https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
birdyrooster 6y ago
Are these clothes? What is the product?
- tpmx 6y ago
  > What is the product? It's a cliché by now, but still: It's you. This is peak Google. (It's sensors/triggers sewn into clothing, connected to your Google identity.)
  - vntok 6y ago
    More like peak HN.
    - tpmx 6y ago
      How so?
      - throwaway3699 6y ago
        Because it's silly to assume Google's using this for ad tracking and surveillance. The number of people in the world using this is practically zero. I doubt 99% of Google's workforce has ever tried or heard of it. HN has a tendency to jump to ridiculous conclusions. This is probably a project for some engineers to get promoted and go and work on more interesting stuff.
        tpmx 6y ago
        > Because it's silly to assume Google's using this for ad tracking and surveillance. The number of people in the world using this is practically zero. I doubt 99% of Google's workforce has ever tried or heard of it. HN has a tendency to jump to ridiculous conclusions. Concepts and prototypes are typically created based on the company's overall vision. Of course very few people will interact with this particular iteration. Really, do you think anyone here was concerned about how many Google employees were "subjected" to this internally?
        throwaway3699 6y ago
        To play devils advocate, if this shipped to millions of people, what benefit does Google have in terms of advertising that wasn't already available in Android? That people are wearing clothes? From an opportunity cost standpoint it just does not make sense. > Really, do you think anyone here was concerned about how many Google employees were "subjected" to this internally? Strawman. I'm trying to point out how this is not part of some grand vision, but just a hardware research project from a lab designed to build out novel concepts for their hardware teams. You can't build a good project without a few failures first, so why not release what they make along the way?
systemvoltage 6y ago
> Jacquard™ by Google weaves new digital experiences into the things you love, wear, and use every day to give you the power to do more and be more. WTF!? Sounds like the CEO of Google giving the intro to Google I/O. If it was Microsoft, it would have the word ‘empower’ instead of power. God I hate this BS lingo, Steve Jobs would fire the editors over this crap.
- vntok 6y ago
  Why not read before commenting? https://atap.google.com/jacquard/technology/ https://atap.google.com/jacquard/technology/
  - systemvoltage 6y ago
    Why not put wtf this is at the first opportunity in the simplest terms? I have a pet peeve for company marketing people that say “We provide products and services to empower customers”. Well, no shit! It would be insane otherwise.
    - vntok 6y ago
      > Why not put wtf this is at the first opportunity in the simplest terms? The "Technology" link is literally the third word visible on the page, after the Jacquard logo and a "Products" link. > I have a pet peeve for company marketing people that say “We provide products and services to empower customers”. Well, no shit! It would be insane otherwise. Companies manufacturing washing machines don't "empower customers" in that there aren't many differenciators between washing machine brands today. Nor does your average company selling toilet paper, that would be insane. This project however aims to "empower customers" by introducing a paradigm change: make your clothes smarter (smart fibers woven in the base product) while deciding yourself how smart you want them to be (you choose what actions to take on what gestures). Whether it succeeds is another thing entirely of course.
      - gremlinsinc 6y ago
        > Companies manufacturing washing machines don't "empower customers" in that there aren't many differenciators between washing machine brands today. Nor does your average company selling toilet paper, that would be insane. Might privileged to assume everyone can afford or has room for a washing machine, for the people who don't I'm sure it definitely would empower them to get more done if they could . Also there's a lot of differentiation, I never knew how much better front-loaders were till we owned one. This reminds me of the "futurism" movement in Italy that led to Mussolini's rise where they were so into fashion that they didn't know how but they just knew they wanted milk-based clothing and had to figure it out, and they actually did! It's kind of a cool story, without the fascist dictator throwing a wrench into the coolness. This also seems like it's totally ripped from star trek, the insignia on their uniforms do exactly that and Jean Luc Picard sounds a lot like Jacquard.... I could see this as a gimmick from Nike, Reebok, or someone already in fashion but from Google it seems... like some weird B-project team endeavor like Google Glass that probably won't go anywhere long-term.
osipovas 6y ago
What does it say about Alphabet that I expected to see a: We're closing down Project Jacquard. After clicking the link...
williesleg 6y ago
Yeah just what I need, a Google Jackoff Chip
Jabbles 6y ago
Note that Project Jacquard was announced by Google in 2015: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ngt0Xg4lLOo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ngt0Xg4lLOo
- hwbehrens 6y ago
  And the relevant HN discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9625641 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9625641
- UncleOxidant 6y ago
  ...and will likely be canceled by Google in 2023.
trequartista 6y ago
Shoes, Jackets and Bags powered by the technology is cool and all, but it doesn't say anywhere whether this is waterproof? Are the jackets washable in a washing machine? The gadgets are cool, but there are questions about the real world utility of this.
- Judgmentality 6y ago
  > Shoes, Jackets and Bags powered by the technology is cool and all Why? What makes them cool? What do they do that normal clothes don't?
jakogut 6y ago
What a strange name and marketing scheme. It's unclear what they're selling, how to get it, or if I would even want it. I increasingly feel out of the loop when it comes to new products and services marketed by large corporations.
- tantalor 6y ago
  The name has been around since 1804 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacquard_machine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacquard_machine
- alunchbox 6y ago
  Yep, another data extraction tool. Neat but every day we strive closer to Black Mirror.
muglug 6y ago
This is an interesting approach: this device will free you from constantly checking all those other devices. To me this is the selling point of the Apple Watch, and it's hard to see what this does that a watch does not.
- LASR 6y ago
  They're clearly going for the other end of the spectrum here. A watch is something that is attached to you, regardless of what other clothing/shoes/bags you may have. This is attached to the clothing/shoes/bags you may have, regardless of whether you're in it or not. The only way this can work out is if the device can be built so cheaply that it can be integrated into most items of clothing to be ubiquitous (like the anti-theft tags). The point of a smart watch is that you own one, and so device vendors can pack in a ton of tech inside it to make it compelling. And since you only need one, they can probably price it high, and offer some sort of accessory system to cater to different style preferences. The Apple Watch totally nails this product. This product, IMHO, is a disaster from a product perspective, not even going into the tech involved. What do I do if I chose to not wear my blue jean jacket that day? No functionality? Maybe I'll cut this little device out of the jacket and put it into my coat sleeve. It's basically a really terrible smart watch at this point.
- SahAssar 6y ago
  > this device will free you from constantly checking all those other devices. How? The only way this device will indicate anything to the user is by vibrating, just like your phone (or watch) already can do.
  - Rebelgecko 6y ago
    It can also light up in different patterns
tomerico 6y ago
This is one of the Google projects that I'm surprised still exist. The new technology here is integrating touch sensors into fabrics. You can see examples on the website of clothing and bags. The main problem is that it's just that - a touch sensor. You still need a separate device that will contain all the other pieces - processor, battery, IMU, connectivity, etc. Once you make that device and wear it - you might as well integrate the input mechanism into it, why bother with using the fabric? Better yet - integrate a screen into it as well, do you don't just have an odd, input only device, but you can actually see what you are interacting with. Oh wait - at that point you've just re-invented the smartwatch. Can someone enlighten me on what is a killer use case that is actually better served with the Jacquard technology?
- pavel_lishin 6y ago
  Eh, some of the use cases are kind of neat - being able to control certain things without taking that device (likely a phone) out of a pocket.
  - wyattpeak 6y ago
    I already control my phone while in my pocket using my headphones. Others do it with their watch. Still others just shout at their phones. I don't think it's impossible that there's an even better solution hiding in this product, but it really does seem to address a solved problem, to my mind.
- paxys 6y ago
  > You still need a separate device that will contain all the other pieces - processor, battery, IMU, connectivity, etc That device already exists - your smartphone
  - tomerico 6y ago
    If the clothes could somehow tap into your smartphone battery and processor that would have at least made the whole thing simpler to use. As it stands right now, you need to have a separate “tag” that you charge separately and connect to your phone wirelessly. At that point you might as well wear a smartwatch or similar.
pavel_lishin 6y ago
When are they scheduled to discontinue the APIs that make these more than paperweights?
- drusepth 6y ago
  They are not currently scheduled to discontinue the APIs these use.
AirMax98 6y ago
Hate to be dismissive, but who honestly wants to wear this nerd shit? A fashion disaster on par with Google glass. Can't wait til my sneakers are part of some botnet.
- imwillofficial 6y ago
  I laughed so hard at this
Doctor_Fegg 6y ago
"allows our partner brands to integrate connectivity and digital experiences directly into their products" It's the Motorola ROKR all over again.
chrisco255 6y ago
Seems like they originally announced the Jacquard project 6 or so years ago. The idea of weaving electronics into clothing and fashion brands is interesting, but I'm not sure how useful it is. The product looks like it's evolved into a small bluetooth chip that you can slide into either shirt sleeves or backbacks and it will sense touches even through the fabric. It's interesting, but also fairly niche. The example they show of the woman sliding the Jacquard device into the rolled back jean jacket sleeve doesn't seem practical though. It just seems like smart watches are a better match for this use case of answering calls and performing quick tasks. Note, it says the product can withstand light splashes, but can't withstand a wash in a machine. What that means is that these devices will get fried on a regular basis...since a device that small is easy to forget about as you toss in your laundry.
- QueensGambit 6y ago
  So many negative comments. As someone who don't want to be distracted by smartphone, I can see myself using this. Especially this one - https://www.adidas.com/us/gmr-pack/FS0156.html https://www.adidas.com/us/gmr-pack/FS0156.html Some of the reviews about this product do say it stopped working after one season. But, it is not as bad you describe. Hopefully, it will improve over time.
  - JumpCrisscross 6y ago
    I like the idea. But it will take someone who isn’t Google to make it work. This is right in Apple’s wheelhouse, though Amazon or a start-up could also pull it off.
    - chaostheory 6y ago
      It will take another company that isn’t Google to get customers to take a risk in buying it. Whenever I see a Google product that I’m not familiar with, I’m wondering, “How long will it be before it’s cancelled?” For Google to succeed with a new hardware product, they will need to either give it away or price it below $10
- 6y ago
jpollock 6y ago
It looks like the sensors/controls are built into the object, with the CPU, battery and radio (the more expensive part) being movable? So, it attaches to the jacket and exposes some controls, it attaches to the backpack and enables some controls. It attaches to the shoe and reads sensors? I guess that means you don't have to plug in your jacket or your backpack, and helps to amortize the cost across a wardrobe? Maybe it's purely to get the battery close to a wall socket.
serverholic 6y ago
Any bets on when google will discontinue this product?
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
frouge 6y ago
Place your bets: when will Google kill this project?
dfxm12 6y ago
I like the idea of wearable computing. I'm not too keen on being locked into Google/Levi's/YSL though. The list of abilities [0] also leaves a lot to be desired. I'm just not bothered by pulling out my phone to change a song or check when my uber is coming. The gamification of training with adidas and FIFA is the most interesting, but this seems like a lot of extra tech to basically count reps. 0 - https://atap.google.com/jacquard/technology/#abilities https://atap.google.com/jacquard/technology/#abilities
boh 6y ago
I think the sensors on everything idea is losing its sheen. I don't need my shirt tracking my behavior along with everything else.
cwhiz 6y ago
Legitimately, if this was posted on 4/1 I would have commented that they did a great job with a non-obvious prank. I can't believe this is actually real.
agnosticmantis 6y ago
I hope a nice side effect of this will be for this to incentivize higher quality and more durable clothes, and as a result help bring down fast fashion. It doesn’t seem like these are compatible with cheap disposable clothes/shoes etc.
Akinato 6y ago
I remember hearing about Jacquard years ago. Given I haven't heard or seen any applications of it gaining traction since the launch leads me to think it's just going to go into the endless cavern of Google Abandonware.
gabaix 6y ago
I bought my Jacquard Levi’s jacket 2 years ago in SF. What I really love is the gesture interface. The swipe on the sleeve feels natural. Comparatively tapping on AirPods looks more awkward. It is especially useful while riding my motorbike. I found the jacket in the SF Levi’s store as I was shopping for a jacket. I had no idea that Google made them. I wonder why Google doesn’t do more to promote the device.
suyash 6y ago
no developer platform for it yet? Seems like it hasn't taken off for last 5 years
youeseh 6y ago
What problem are they solving?
dang 6y ago
If curious see also 2017 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15330556 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15330556 2015 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9625641 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9625641
antihero 6y ago
So a bunch of items that restrict your fashion choices, are horrendously expensive for what they actually give you (mostly gimmicks), which will likely be abandoned by Google anyway?
throwaway556179 6y ago
The first use case mentions: "effortless selfies" -- call me stuck in the past, is that what I need high tech for?
abeppu 6y ago
Lots of people are mentioning that this project is old. But zooming out from the project, is this part of a division or org within google that's kind of ... stale? https://atap.google.com/ https://atap.google.com/ Under the projects section the first thing is jacquard. The second thing is the soli miniature radar-on-phone thing which was on the pixel 4 and cut from the pixel 5. The third thing is "Spotlight Stories" which looks like a VR fiction project. It says "Winner emmy". Maybe I'm not finding the right thing but it seems like they were a nominee in 2017 and 2018. https://www.emmys.com/bios/google-spotlight-stories https://www.emmys.com/bios/google-spotlight-stories The 'News & Updates' section starts with links that date from 2019. Maybe they're all heads-down on something not yet announced and no one looks at the page above so it doesn't matter. But if you _do_ look, it seems like a ghost town.
- jonas21 6y ago
  ATAP was headed by Regina Dugan, who left Google for Facebook in 2016. It doesn't seem like they've done a whole lot since then.
  - williadc 6y ago
    Dan Kaufman leads it now, and has since I've been at Google. https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-kaufman-18830a113 https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-kaufman-18830a113
- chaostheory 6y ago
  ATAP seems to be Motorola’s R&D dept that Google kept post Motorola selloff The only stories I’ve read about them recently is how they would pretend to be interested in buying a startup or tech. They would end up interrogating founders everything about their tech, have them sign NDAs, and then show them out the door with the veiled threat of lawsuits and patents. EDIT It was on HN https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18566929 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18566929 Looking back, it’s funny how much I loved Google before when their “don’t be evil” slogan was in effect. I’m pretty sure the turning point was when they cancelled Google Fiber.
  - 6y ago
pyrophane 6y ago
Is there anything new being announced with this? I'm looking at the site and trying to figure out why this is being posted right now. From what I can tell Jacquard has been around for some time, and at least some of these apparel products have as well.
naebother 6y ago
Good, that'll be the end of this abomination.
mellosouls 6y ago
Jacquard™ by Google They've trademarked a term that long (centuries) predates their use of it in textile industries. https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacquard_machine https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacquard_machine https://tissura.com/articles/jacquard-fabrics https://tissura.com/articles/jacquard-fabrics
- wmf 6y ago
  It's possible to trademark an existing word if it's being used in a different class. https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/trademark-classes.html https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/trademark-classes.ht...
willyg123 6y ago
Jacquard is French for "Solution in search of a problem"
jC6fhrfHRLM9b3 6y ago
Another tax write-off project from Google.
omega3 6y ago
I can't think of a product I'd want less than this.
medium_burrito 6y ago
Perhaps South Park will pillory this the same way they pilloried the segway. I'm thinking special hollow smart fibers that allow you to huff your farts continuously while tweeting the methane content.
fatninja 6y ago
2024 - Message from Google jacquard has been discontinued. We want to thank all our loyal fans. We understand you may not agree with this decision, but we hope you'll come to love these alternatives as much as you loved jacquard.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
dualthro 6y ago
Watching that video really made me wish it was possible to short Google products...
- chaostheory 6y ago
  I had the same idea. We can probably build a market on top of the Ethereum platform
elil17 6y ago
There was a post earlier today about audio interfaces as platforms. I think something like this (perhaps a version without all the marketing crap) is way more likely to fill the niche of handling screenless user interactions
partiallypro 6y ago
I have the Adidas soccer cleat insert running this, and it's a fun metric but it's not as accurate as it should be, and sometimes it just doesn't record at all. For $40 it isn't bad, but any more and it would be not worth the price.
foxylad 6y ago
No mention of cost, certainly within the five minutes of reading I bothered to do. I'm intrigued that Google presumably thinks working with developers from a few big brands is the best path to success. If they'd given away as many as they could to the maker community, for instance, I'd hazard a guess that there would be far more exciting applications on their home page.
cordite 6y ago
This would have been cool in 2018, when kickstarters and IoT crowdfunds would push for wearable tech. It would have mattered then, and be shut down this year by Google when it was no longer successful. All their marketing is out of touch with the world's current status. Everyone's going places in these videos, running, in contact with each other.
- jpm_sd 6y ago
  It was announced in fall 2019: https://www.blog.google/products/atap/smarter-wardrobe-jacquard-google/ https://www.blog.google/products/atap/smarter-wardrobe-jacqu... But really it's an incremental improvement in useless things the MIT Media Lab (and others) have been tinkering with since the 90s.
charlesdaniels 6y ago
Obligatory comment about how this will be cancelled in 6 months[0] > What if technology helped us focus on what matters most? > Keeping our lives free from distractions. > To help us be more present, more engaged, and more connected with the people surrounding us. Somehow, I am dubious that the way to solve these problems with not only more technology, but also with technology made by the largest advertising firm on the planet. I am deeply skeptical that a company whose primary business is distracting people and keeping them engaged with advertisements is also going to solve these problems for us... problems they created... with a new product you have to buy. Ok, sure, that aside, let's look at it... > Our ambition is simple: to make life easier. By staying connected to your digital world, your things can do so much more. Skip a song by swiping your sleeve. Take a picture by tapping on a shoulder strap. Get reminded about the phone you left behind with a blink of light or a haptic buzz on your cuff. Yes, I definitely want touching my clothes have second-order effects. And I'm sure mapping all these different "gestures" to actions will be smooth and straightforward. And having a haptic buzzer in my cuff is definitely what I need to keep my life free from distractions. Having a look through the three sample products - a backpack, a shoe insert, and a jacket... this looks pretty pointless. I guess maybe the shoe thing could be handy for people that want a fitness tracker. But I'm not really sure what this is buying in the backpack or jacket. You get one or two gestures which you have to set up, remember, and not trigger accidentally. You get some kind of haptic notification, which I guess might be useful if you don't keep your phone in your pocket. Who is the target audience for this? Who would pay money for this? [0] - https://killedbygoogle.com/ https://killedbygoogle.com/
itisit 6y ago
Wait. This isn’t parody?
denkmoon 6y ago
Manufacturing e-waste in search of a market.
winrid 6y ago
"Get reminded about the phone you left behind with a blink of light or a haptic buzz on your cuff" Ah yes. As if I'm not stuck with it enough.
drdeadringer 6y ago
As an owner of the Jacquard Commuter jacket, here is what I can say from some personal, expensive experience: Many comments here are correct. You're touching your wrist or sleeve to activate an assigned ding on your smartphone; some flashes a color when something happens; perhaps a voice tells you the time because you don't want to look at your watch [be it an analogue watch, that fancy proto-nokia digital watch in 1995, a Smart watch for your favourite walled garden, or the Dick Tracy watch I've wanted for decades]; and so forth. The most I've ever washed this jacket is walking through the rain -- I wear almost daily, in northern California, and the electronics still work after several years. [I have good clothing hygiene, I swear]. On the other hand [ha ha], I'm still trying to use the electronics part in a significant fashion [ho ho] but I'm recently making an effort for some post-wallet giggles. I have received some version of "cool jacket dude" a number of times though, which is nice. I'll continue to see how the denim, electronics, pockets, &c hold up with continued almost-daily use. At least for my own sake.
imgabe 6y ago
It seems like so much consumer tech has reached a point of diminishing returns. Going from candles to electric light is a huge deal. Going from flipping a switch on the wall to turn on a light to waving your arm or speaking out loud to turn on the light is not that big a deal, although it requires huge advances in the underlying technology. Going from paper maps to Google maps? Huge. Going from Google maps reading you directions through a phone speaker to Google maps reading you directions through a speaker woven into your clothes? Meh
- notatoad 6y ago
  i think the point is that a leap like going from paper maps to google maps is built on top of a huge number of little tiny boring things. Jacquard is cool tech but it's boring because nobody's found a good use for it yet. Maybe somebody will eventually find something significant to do with it. Or maybe nobody will ever find anything useful to do with it, but inventing a whole lot of useless things is also part of the process.
  - kristintynski 6y ago
    The app for soccer players seemed compelling as a use case for competitive teams. Perhaps this is already being done by other means, but it seems like you could pretty simply track detailed performance data at the individual player level and whole team level. I can see it being big in this space. Also, maybe health applications? Vital monitoring? Posture tracking? who knows. To me, any new platform like this opens up at least some interesting opportunities for niche use cases.
    - nindalf 6y ago
      You’re right, it’s already being done. When you see top pros train they wear something that looks like a bra on top of their shirts. This tracks their movements via GPS and also monitors vitals like heart rate. There are firms that provide the hardware and analyse the data as well.
    - notatoad 6y ago
gerash 6y ago
The use cases they have shown are pretty bland and meh. What they have to do is get into health, fitness area. I saw an ad for a device that goes underneath the sole of your ski boots and measures how well you are skiing. That's where this tech belongs, not swiping your cuff to raise the volume and missing one out of three times. Google doesn't know how to use their tech. to create good products
uomo 6y ago
This sort of reminds me, at least the Adidas example, of the Nike and Apple activity tracker that would be embedded into shoes in order to track distances and number of steps.
lawrenceyan 6y ago
Saint Laurent x Google: https://www.ysl.com/en-us/backpacks/cit-e-backpack-in-canvas-with-jacquard%E2%84%A2-by-google-5793639W0AF1000.html https://www.ysl.com/en-us/backpacks/cit-e-backpack-in-canvas...
Clewza313 6y ago
(2019) https://www.blog.google/products/atap/smarter-wardrobe-jacquard-google/ https://www.blog.google/products/atap/smarter-wardrobe-jacqu... But not cancelled yet!
knicholes 6y ago
Does anyone know what kind of life this thing gets with the battery provided?
godisdad 6y ago
Countdown till this is discounted and unsupported in 3... 2... 1...
forgingahead 6y ago
Skip a song by swiping your sleeve. Take a picture by tapping on a shoulder strap. Get reminded about the phone you left behind with a blink of light or a haptic buzz on your cuff None of these are compelling use-cases at all. Who cares? There is an interesting idea behind wearable tech, but we shouldn't want the protocols to be locked behind specific-company technology, and I certainly have no interest in giving Google even more of my data. The game-changing wearable tech will be related to specific problem-domains, particularly with elder-care and (to a lesser extent) infant/young child assets for their parents. Hard pass on Jacquard.
itronitron 6y ago
A useful function would be the ability to alert contacts or summon a personal surveillance service (via drone or nearby pedestrians) in the event of a Police stop or Karen incident.
anshumankmr 6y ago
With something that small, a not-so-insignificant number of people will end up washing it in their washing machines. Speaking from personal experience, as I have ended up washing several notes of money, coins and one pendrive. Plus, it just seems unecessary. Another comment here explained more eloquently than I did with their concept of "diminishing returns."
rkagerer 6y ago
What does this actually do?
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
paganel 6y ago
Didn't expect to see Joao Felix on a google.com page.
5ersi 6y ago
Does it need internet to function? Because if this is like chromecast (needs internet and access to Google servers, to stream locally), then I don't even want to read about it.
staticelf 6y ago
Cool thing, but kind of useless. Reasons I would never buy this: 1. It's from Google, so privacy issues are a big problem. Also they will probably discontinue it any day now. 2. I guess you'll have to charge it all the time. I hate charging my phone and watch already so the utility of this is not good enough to warrant that issue. 3. It doesn't solve any problem for me. It is a solution seeking a problem. Fiddle with this only to turn of my lamps which I can do from my phone? Nah thanks. I already have automation on many of my lights to follow the day/night cycle and I never even have to think of switching it manually so this is kind of a step back. I don't really see that many other features to be actually useful.
vertis 6y ago
The use of the term "Jacquard" in this context is really annoying. Jacquard is already a fashion/textiles device[1]. I get that it's trying to 'pay homage' or something, but Jacquard machines are still used today. When tech companies overload terms like this it creates confusion. Are you talking about the machine or the Google product. Another example of the same behaviour is Peloton. [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacquard_machine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacquard_machine
pvelagal 6y ago
From what i read so far from their website, there are fundamental flaws in Google’s approach to this technology. They are not defining any core experiences at all but leaving them open.. eg.1) Skip song by swiping sleeve.. 2) take picture by tapping shoulder strap.. and a ton of other touches/swipes etc to do a ton of other things..so how would a user remember what to do when they want to skip a song ? Should i tap my shoulder or touch my collar or sleeves? Which sleeve ? This will create immense confusion.. it becomes unnatural.. people will get frustrated and would simply go back to their phone to operate individual apps. When users (lets say toddlers) operate a device like iphone , they touch , drag , tap etc and respond accordingly.. and try to do similar stuff on an android device too.. if such gestures mean different things on different phones it will get frustrating..
ncr100 6y ago
This is an important step towards modularization of the cell phone and smart watch. Bring the bits you need for the journey you're taking. Leave the brick at home.
corobo 6y ago
This looks so cool! Any other company and I'd consider it. No, not you Facebook. Never you.
markdown 6y ago
Based on the ads I thought it would be able to track all your movement on a soccer or rugby pitch, and let you view that data after. Turns out it's just gaming nonsense: > A first of its kind gaming technology from adidas, EA SPORTS FIFA Mobile and Jacquard™ by Google, that creates a new experience by connecting physical football and digital gaming.
visarga 6y ago
Give it 5 ore 10 years and children will have to wear it at all times during school, you know, for their own safety.
armoredkitten 6y ago
Brb, gotta go plug in my pants
dozzman 6y ago
Not sure about the interaction aspect of the device, but it reminds me of the "Pico Siblings" required by the (now discontinued?) Pico project by my old lecturer which aimed to get rid of passwords[1]. [1]: http://mypico.org/ http://mypico.org/

154 points by lgats 6y ago

cma 6y ago

Can't figure out what it is from the page. An accelerometer clip on for your shoes and sleeves? Something woven into some of the fabrics in one cutaway image, maybe strain sensors or touch sensors?

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

illumanaughty 6y ago

Cool! Can't wait until this gets shuttered mid-2022.

jakogut 6y ago
I definitely have an active aversion to integrating Google products into my life after being bitten by this several times.
smnrchrds 6y ago
It reminds me of Amazon Dash, so I think you are right.
dang 6y ago
It's time to retire this cliché on HN, not because it's untrue, but because it has become a mechanical reflex. "Please don't post shallow dismissals, especially of other people's work. A good critical comment teaches us something." https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

birdyrooster 6y ago

Are these clothes? What is the product?

tpmx 6y ago
> What is the product? It's a cliché by now, but still: It's you. This is peak Google. (It's sensors/triggers sewn into clothing, connected to your Google identity.)
- vntok 6y ago
  More like peak HN.
  - tpmx 6y ago
    How so?
    - throwaway3699 6y ago
      Because it's silly to assume Google's using this for ad tracking and surveillance. The number of people in the world using this is practically zero. I doubt 99% of Google's workforce has ever tried or heard of it. HN has a tendency to jump to ridiculous conclusions. This is probably a project for some engineers to get promoted and go and work on more interesting stuff.
      - tpmx 6y ago
        > Because it's silly to assume Google's using this for ad tracking and surveillance. The number of people in the world using this is practically zero. I doubt 99% of Google's workforce has ever tried or heard of it. HN has a tendency to jump to ridiculous conclusions. Concepts and prototypes are typically created based on the company's overall vision. Of course very few people will interact with this particular iteration. Really, do you think anyone here was concerned about how many Google employees were "subjected" to this internally?
        throwaway3699 6y ago
        To play devils advocate, if this shipped to millions of people, what benefit does Google have in terms of advertising that wasn't already available in Android? That people are wearing clothes? From an opportunity cost standpoint it just does not make sense. > Really, do you think anyone here was concerned about how many Google employees were "subjected" to this internally? Strawman. I'm trying to point out how this is not part of some grand vision, but just a hardware research project from a lab designed to build out novel concepts for their hardware teams. You can't build a good project without a few failures first, so why not release what they make along the way?

systemvoltage 6y ago

> Jacquard™ by Google weaves new digital experiences into the things you love, wear, and use every day to give you the power to do more and be more. WTF!? Sounds like the CEO of Google giving the intro to Google I/O. If it was Microsoft, it would have the word ‘empower’ instead of power. God I hate this BS lingo, Steve Jobs would fire the editors over this crap.

vntok 6y ago
Why not read before commenting? https://atap.google.com/jacquard/technology/ https://atap.google.com/jacquard/technology/
- systemvoltage 6y ago
  Why not put wtf this is at the first opportunity in the simplest terms? I have a pet peeve for company marketing people that say “We provide products and services to empower customers”. Well, no shit! It would be insane otherwise.
  - vntok 6y ago
    > Why not put wtf this is at the first opportunity in the simplest terms? The "Technology" link is literally the third word visible on the page, after the Jacquard logo and a "Products" link. > I have a pet peeve for company marketing people that say “We provide products and services to empower customers”. Well, no shit! It would be insane otherwise. Companies manufacturing washing machines don't "empower customers" in that there aren't many differenciators between washing machine brands today. Nor does your average company selling toilet paper, that would be insane. This project however aims to "empower customers" by introducing a paradigm change: make your clothes smarter (smart fibers woven in the base product) while deciding yourself how smart you want them to be (you choose what actions to take on what gestures). Whether it succeeds is another thing entirely of course.
    - gremlinsinc 6y ago
      > Companies manufacturing washing machines don't "empower customers" in that there aren't many differenciators between washing machine brands today. Nor does your average company selling toilet paper, that would be insane. Might privileged to assume everyone can afford or has room for a washing machine, for the people who don't I'm sure it definitely would empower them to get more done if they could . Also there's a lot of differentiation, I never knew how much better front-loaders were till we owned one. This reminds me of the "futurism" movement in Italy that led to Mussolini's rise where they were so into fashion that they didn't know how but they just knew they wanted milk-based clothing and had to figure it out, and they actually did! It's kind of a cool story, without the fascist dictator throwing a wrench into the coolness. This also seems like it's totally ripped from star trek, the insignia on their uniforms do exactly that and Jean Luc Picard sounds a lot like Jacquard.... I could see this as a gimmick from Nike, Reebok, or someone already in fashion but from Google it seems... like some weird B-project team endeavor like Google Glass that probably won't go anywhere long-term.

osipovas 6y ago

What does it say about Alphabet that I expected to see a: We're closing down Project Jacquard. After clicking the link...

williesleg 6y ago

Yeah just what I need, a Google Jackoff Chip

Jabbles 6y ago

Note that Project Jacquard was announced by Google in 2015: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ngt0Xg4lLOo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ngt0Xg4lLOo

hwbehrens 6y ago
And the relevant HN discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9625641 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9625641
UncleOxidant 6y ago
...and will likely be canceled by Google in 2023.

trequartista 6y ago

Shoes, Jackets and Bags powered by the technology is cool and all, but it doesn't say anywhere whether this is waterproof? Are the jackets washable in a washing machine? The gadgets are cool, but there are questions about the real world utility of this.

Judgmentality 6y ago
> Shoes, Jackets and Bags powered by the technology is cool and all Why? What makes them cool? What do they do that normal clothes don't?

jakogut 6y ago

What a strange name and marketing scheme. It's unclear what they're selling, how to get it, or if I would even want it. I increasingly feel out of the loop when it comes to new products and services marketed by large corporations.

tantalor 6y ago
The name has been around since 1804 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacquard_machine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacquard_machine
alunchbox 6y ago
Yep, another data extraction tool. Neat but every day we strive closer to Black Mirror.

muglug 6y ago

This is an interesting approach: this device will free you from constantly checking all those other devices. To me this is the selling point of the Apple Watch, and it's hard to see what this does that a watch does not.

LASR 6y ago
They're clearly going for the other end of the spectrum here. A watch is something that is attached to you, regardless of what other clothing/shoes/bags you may have. This is attached to the clothing/shoes/bags you may have, regardless of whether you're in it or not. The only way this can work out is if the device can be built so cheaply that it can be integrated into most items of clothing to be ubiquitous (like the anti-theft tags). The point of a smart watch is that you own one, and so device vendors can pack in a ton of tech inside it to make it compelling. And since you only need one, they can probably price it high, and offer some sort of accessory system to cater to different style preferences. The Apple Watch totally nails this product. This product, IMHO, is a disaster from a product perspective, not even going into the tech involved. What do I do if I chose to not wear my blue jean jacket that day? No functionality? Maybe I'll cut this little device out of the jacket and put it into my coat sleeve. It's basically a really terrible smart watch at this point.
SahAssar 6y ago
> this device will free you from constantly checking all those other devices. How? The only way this device will indicate anything to the user is by vibrating, just like your phone (or watch) already can do.
- Rebelgecko 6y ago
  It can also light up in different patterns

tomerico 6y ago

This is one of the Google projects that I'm surprised still exist. The new technology here is integrating touch sensors into fabrics. You can see examples on the website of clothing and bags. The main problem is that it's just that - a touch sensor. You still need a separate device that will contain all the other pieces - processor, battery, IMU, connectivity, etc. Once you make that device and wear it - you might as well integrate the input mechanism into it, why bother with using the fabric? Better yet - integrate a screen into it as well, do you don't just have an odd, input only device, but you can actually see what you are interacting with. Oh wait - at that point you've just re-invented the smartwatch. Can someone enlighten me on what is a killer use case that is actually better served with the Jacquard technology?

pavel_lishin 6y ago
Eh, some of the use cases are kind of neat - being able to control certain things without taking that device (likely a phone) out of a pocket.
- wyattpeak 6y ago
  I already control my phone while in my pocket using my headphones. Others do it with their watch. Still others just shout at their phones. I don't think it's impossible that there's an even better solution hiding in this product, but it really does seem to address a solved problem, to my mind.
paxys 6y ago
> You still need a separate device that will contain all the other pieces - processor, battery, IMU, connectivity, etc That device already exists - your smartphone
- tomerico 6y ago
  If the clothes could somehow tap into your smartphone battery and processor that would have at least made the whole thing simpler to use. As it stands right now, you need to have a separate “tag” that you charge separately and connect to your phone wirelessly. At that point you might as well wear a smartwatch or similar.

pavel_lishin 6y ago

When are they scheduled to discontinue the APIs that make these more than paperweights?

drusepth 6y ago
They are not currently scheduled to discontinue the APIs these use.

AirMax98 6y ago

Hate to be dismissive, but who honestly wants to wear this nerd shit? A fashion disaster on par with Google glass. Can't wait til my sneakers are part of some botnet.

imwillofficial 6y ago
I laughed so hard at this

Doctor_Fegg 6y ago

"allows our partner brands to integrate connectivity and digital experiences directly into their products" It's the Motorola ROKR all over again.

chrisco255 6y ago

Seems like they originally announced the Jacquard project 6 or so years ago. The idea of weaving electronics into clothing and fashion brands is interesting, but I'm not sure how useful it is. The product looks like it's evolved into a small bluetooth chip that you can slide into either shirt sleeves or backbacks and it will sense touches even through the fabric. It's interesting, but also fairly niche. The example they show of the woman sliding the Jacquard device into the rolled back jean jacket sleeve doesn't seem practical though. It just seems like smart watches are a better match for this use case of answering calls and performing quick tasks. Note, it says the product can withstand light splashes, but can't withstand a wash in a machine. What that means is that these devices will get fried on a regular basis...since a device that small is easy to forget about as you toss in your laundry.

QueensGambit 6y ago
So many negative comments. As someone who don't want to be distracted by smartphone, I can see myself using this. Especially this one - https://www.adidas.com/us/gmr-pack/FS0156.html https://www.adidas.com/us/gmr-pack/FS0156.html Some of the reviews about this product do say it stopped working after one season. But, it is not as bad you describe. Hopefully, it will improve over time.
- JumpCrisscross 6y ago
  I like the idea. But it will take someone who isn’t Google to make it work. This is right in Apple’s wheelhouse, though Amazon or a start-up could also pull it off.
  - chaostheory 6y ago
    It will take another company that isn’t Google to get customers to take a risk in buying it. Whenever I see a Google product that I’m not familiar with, I’m wondering, “How long will it be before it’s cancelled?” For Google to succeed with a new hardware product, they will need to either give it away or price it below $10
6y ago

jpollock 6y ago

It looks like the sensors/controls are built into the object, with the CPU, battery and radio (the more expensive part) being movable? So, it attaches to the jacket and exposes some controls, it attaches to the backpack and enables some controls. It attaches to the shoe and reads sensors? I guess that means you don't have to plug in your jacket or your backpack, and helps to amortize the cost across a wardrobe? Maybe it's purely to get the battery close to a wall socket.

serverholic 6y ago

Any bets on when google will discontinue this product?

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

frouge 6y ago

Place your bets: when will Google kill this project?

dfxm12 6y ago

I like the idea of wearable computing. I'm not too keen on being locked into Google/Levi's/YSL though. The list of abilities [0] also leaves a lot to be desired. I'm just not bothered by pulling out my phone to change a song or check when my uber is coming. The gamification of training with adidas and FIFA is the most interesting, but this seems like a lot of extra tech to basically count reps. 0 - https://atap.google.com/jacquard/technology/#abilities https://atap.google.com/jacquard/technology/#abilities

boh 6y ago

I think the sensors on everything idea is losing its sheen. I don't need my shirt tracking my behavior along with everything else.

cwhiz 6y ago

Legitimately, if this was posted on 4/1 I would have commented that they did a great job with a non-obvious prank. I can't believe this is actually real.

agnosticmantis 6y ago

I hope a nice side effect of this will be for this to incentivize higher quality and more durable clothes, and as a result help bring down fast fashion. It doesn’t seem like these are compatible with cheap disposable clothes/shoes etc.

Akinato 6y ago

I remember hearing about Jacquard years ago. Given I haven't heard or seen any applications of it gaining traction since the launch leads me to think it's just going to go into the endless cavern of Google Abandonware.

gabaix 6y ago

I bought my Jacquard Levi’s jacket 2 years ago in SF. What I really love is the gesture interface. The swipe on the sleeve feels natural. Comparatively tapping on AirPods looks more awkward. It is especially useful while riding my motorbike. I found the jacket in the SF Levi’s store as I was shopping for a jacket. I had no idea that Google made them. I wonder why Google doesn’t do more to promote the device.

suyash 6y ago

no developer platform for it yet? Seems like it hasn't taken off for last 5 years

youeseh 6y ago

What problem are they solving?

dang 6y ago

If curious see also 2017 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15330556 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15330556 2015 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9625641 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9625641

antihero 6y ago

So a bunch of items that restrict your fashion choices, are horrendously expensive for what they actually give you (mostly gimmicks), which will likely be abandoned by Google anyway?

throwaway556179 6y ago

The first use case mentions: "effortless selfies" -- call me stuck in the past, is that what I need high tech for?

abeppu 6y ago

Lots of people are mentioning that this project is old. But zooming out from the project, is this part of a division or org within google that's kind of ... stale? https://atap.google.com/ https://atap.google.com/ Under the projects section the first thing is jacquard. The second thing is the soli miniature radar-on-phone thing which was on the pixel 4 and cut from the pixel 5. The third thing is "Spotlight Stories" which looks like a VR fiction project. It says "Winner emmy". Maybe I'm not finding the right thing but it seems like they were a nominee in 2017 and 2018. https://www.emmys.com/bios/google-spotlight-stories https://www.emmys.com/bios/google-spotlight-stories The 'News & Updates' section starts with links that date from 2019. Maybe they're all heads-down on something not yet announced and no one looks at the page above so it doesn't matter. But if you _do_ look, it seems like a ghost town.

jonas21 6y ago
ATAP was headed by Regina Dugan, who left Google for Facebook in 2016. It doesn't seem like they've done a whole lot since then.
- williadc 6y ago
  Dan Kaufman leads it now, and has since I've been at Google. https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-kaufman-18830a113 https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-kaufman-18830a113
chaostheory 6y ago
ATAP seems to be Motorola’s R&D dept that Google kept post Motorola selloff The only stories I’ve read about them recently is how they would pretend to be interested in buying a startup or tech. They would end up interrogating founders everything about their tech, have them sign NDAs, and then show them out the door with the veiled threat of lawsuits and patents. EDIT It was on HN https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18566929 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18566929 Looking back, it’s funny how much I loved Google before when their “don’t be evil” slogan was in effect. I’m pretty sure the turning point was when they cancelled Google Fiber.
- 6y ago

pyrophane 6y ago

Is there anything new being announced with this? I'm looking at the site and trying to figure out why this is being posted right now. From what I can tell Jacquard has been around for some time, and at least some of these apparel products have as well.

naebother 6y ago

Good, that'll be the end of this abomination.

mellosouls 6y ago

Jacquard™ by Google They've trademarked a term that long (centuries) predates their use of it in textile industries. https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacquard_machine https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacquard_machine https://tissura.com/articles/jacquard-fabrics https://tissura.com/articles/jacquard-fabrics

wmf 6y ago
It's possible to trademark an existing word if it's being used in a different class. https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/trademark-classes.html https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/trademark-classes.ht...

willyg123 6y ago

Jacquard is French for "Solution in search of a problem"

jC6fhrfHRLM9b3 6y ago

Another tax write-off project from Google.

omega3 6y ago

I can't think of a product I'd want less than this.

medium_burrito 6y ago

Perhaps South Park will pillory this the same way they pilloried the segway. I'm thinking special hollow smart fibers that allow you to huff your farts continuously while tweeting the methane content.

fatninja 6y ago

2024 - Message from Google jacquard has been discontinued. We want to thank all our loyal fans. We understand you may not agree with this decision, but we hope you'll come to love these alternatives as much as you loved jacquard.

deleted 6y ago
[deleted]

dualthro 6y ago

Watching that video really made me wish it was possible to short Google products...

chaostheory 6y ago
I had the same idea. We can probably build a market on top of the Ethereum platform

elil17 6y ago

There was a post earlier today about audio interfaces as platforms. I think something like this (perhaps a version without all the marketing crap) is way more likely to fill the niche of handling screenless user interactions

partiallypro 6y ago

I have the Adidas soccer cleat insert running this, and it's a fun metric but it's not as accurate as it should be, and sometimes it just doesn't record at all. For $40 it isn't bad, but any more and it would be not worth the price.

foxylad 6y ago

No mention of cost, certainly within the five minutes of reading I bothered to do. I'm intrigued that Google presumably thinks working with developers from a few big brands is the best path to success. If they'd given away as many as they could to the maker community, for instance, I'd hazard a guess that there would be far more exciting applications on their home page.

cordite 6y ago

This would have been cool in 2018, when kickstarters and IoT crowdfunds would push for wearable tech. It would have mattered then, and be shut down this year by Google when it was no longer successful. All their marketing is out of touch with the world's current status. Everyone's going places in these videos, running, in contact with each other.

jpm_sd 6y ago
It was announced in fall 2019: https://www.blog.google/products/atap/smarter-wardrobe-jacquard-google/ https://www.blog.google/products/atap/smarter-wardrobe-jacqu... But really it's an incremental improvement in useless things the MIT Media Lab (and others) have been tinkering with since the 90s.

charlesdaniels 6y ago

Obligatory comment about how this will be cancelled in 6 months[0] > What if technology helped us focus on what matters most? > Keeping our lives free from distractions. > To help us be more present, more engaged, and more connected with the people surrounding us. Somehow, I am dubious that the way to solve these problems with not only more technology, but also with technology made by the largest advertising firm on the planet. I am deeply skeptical that a company whose primary business is distracting people and keeping them engaged with advertisements is also going to solve these problems for us... problems they created... with a new product you have to buy. Ok, sure, that aside, let's look at it... > Our ambition is simple: to make life easier. By staying connected to your digital world, your things can do so much more. Skip a song by swiping your sleeve. Take a picture by tapping on a shoulder strap. Get reminded about the phone you left behind with a blink of light or a haptic buzz on your cuff. Yes, I definitely want touching my clothes have second-order effects. And I'm sure mapping all these different "gestures" to actions will be smooth and straightforward. And having a haptic buzzer in my cuff is definitely what I need to keep my life free from distractions. Having a look through the three sample products - a backpack, a shoe insert, and a jacket... this looks pretty pointless. I guess maybe the shoe thing could be handy for people that want a fitness tracker. But I'm not really sure what this is buying in the backpack or jacket. You get one or two gestures which you have to set up, remember, and not trigger accidentally. You get some kind of haptic notification, which I guess might be useful if you don't keep your phone in your pocket. Who is the target audience for this? Who would pay money for this? [0] - https://killedbygoogle.com/ https://killedbygoogle.com/

itisit 6y ago

Wait. This isn’t parody?

denkmoon 6y ago

Manufacturing e-waste in search of a market.

winrid 6y ago

"Get reminded about the phone you left behind with a blink of light or a haptic buzz on your cuff" Ah yes. As if I'm not stuck with it enough.

drdeadringer 6y ago

As an owner of the Jacquard Commuter jacket, here is what I can say from some personal, expensive experience: Many comments here are correct. You're touching your wrist or sleeve to activate an assigned ding on your smartphone; some flashes a color when something happens; perhaps a voice tells you the time because you don't want to look at your watch [be it an analogue watch, that fancy proto-nokia digital watch in 1995, a Smart watch for your favourite walled garden, or the Dick Tracy watch I've wanted for decades]; and so forth. The most I've ever washed this jacket is walking through the rain -- I wear almost daily, in northern California, and the electronics still work after several years. [I have good clothing hygiene, I swear]. On the other hand [ha ha], I'm still trying to use the electronics part in a significant fashion [ho ho] but I'm recently making an effort for some post-wallet giggles. I have received some version of "cool jacket dude" a number of times though, which is nice. I'll continue to see how the denim, electronics, pockets, &c hold up with continued almost-daily use. At least for my own sake.

imgabe 6y ago

It seems like so much consumer tech has reached a point of diminishing returns. Going from candles to electric light is a huge deal. Going from flipping a switch on the wall to turn on a light to waving your arm or speaking out loud to turn on the light is not that big a deal, although it requires huge advances in the underlying technology. Going from paper maps to Google maps? Huge. Going from Google maps reading you directions through a phone speaker to Google maps reading you directions through a speaker woven into your clothes? Meh

notatoad 6y ago
i think the point is that a leap like going from paper maps to google maps is built on top of a huge number of little tiny boring things. Jacquard is cool tech but it's boring because nobody's found a good use for it yet. Maybe somebody will eventually find something significant to do with it. Or maybe nobody will ever find anything useful to do with it, but inventing a whole lot of useless things is also part of the process.
- kristintynski 6y ago
  The app for soccer players seemed compelling as a use case for competitive teams. Perhaps this is already being done by other means, but it seems like you could pretty simply track detailed performance data at the individual player level and whole team level. I can see it being big in this space. Also, maybe health applications? Vital monitoring? Posture tracking? who knows. To me, any new platform like this opens up at least some interesting opportunities for niche use cases.
  - nindalf 6y ago
    You’re right, it’s already being done. When you see top pros train they wear something that looks like a bra on top of their shirts. This tracks their movements via GPS and also monitors vitals like heart rate. There are firms that provide the hardware and analyse the data as well.
  - notatoad 6y ago

gerash 6y ago

The use cases they have shown are pretty bland and meh. What they have to do is get into health, fitness area. I saw an ad for a device that goes underneath the sole of your ski boots and measures how well you are skiing. That's where this tech belongs, not swiping your cuff to raise the volume and missing one out of three times. Google doesn't know how to use their tech. to create good products

uomo 6y ago

This sort of reminds me, at least the Adidas example, of the Nike and Apple activity tracker that would be embedded into shoes in order to track distances and number of steps.

lawrenceyan 6y ago

Saint Laurent x Google: https://www.ysl.com/en-us/backpacks/cit-e-backpack-in-canvas-with-jacquard%E2%84%A2-by-google-5793639W0AF1000.html https://www.ysl.com/en-us/backpacks/cit-e-backpack-in-canvas...

Clewza313 6y ago

(2019) https://www.blog.google/products/atap/smarter-wardrobe-jacquard-google/ https://www.blog.google/products/atap/smarter-wardrobe-jacqu... But not cancelled yet!

knicholes 6y ago

Does anyone know what kind of life this thing gets with the battery provided?

godisdad 6y ago

Countdown till this is discounted and unsupported in 3... 2... 1...

forgingahead 6y ago

Skip a song by swiping your sleeve. Take a picture by tapping on a shoulder strap. Get reminded about the phone you left behind with a blink of light or a haptic buzz on your cuff None of these are compelling use-cases at all. Who cares? There is an interesting idea behind wearable tech, but we shouldn't want the protocols to be locked behind specific-company technology, and I certainly have no interest in giving Google even more of my data. The game-changing wearable tech will be related to specific problem-domains, particularly with elder-care and (to a lesser extent) infant/young child assets for their parents. Hard pass on Jacquard.

itronitron 6y ago

A useful function would be the ability to alert contacts or summon a personal surveillance service (via drone or nearby pedestrians) in the event of a Police stop or Karen incident.

anshumankmr 6y ago

With something that small, a not-so-insignificant number of people will end up washing it in their washing machines. Speaking from personal experience, as I have ended up washing several notes of money, coins and one pendrive. Plus, it just seems unecessary. Another comment here explained more eloquently than I did with their concept of "diminishing returns."

rkagerer 6y ago

What does this actually do?

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

paganel 6y ago

Didn't expect to see Joao Felix on a google.com page.

5ersi 6y ago

Does it need internet to function? Because if this is like chromecast (needs internet and access to Google servers, to stream locally), then I don't even want to read about it.

staticelf 6y ago

Cool thing, but kind of useless. Reasons I would never buy this: 1. It's from Google, so privacy issues are a big problem. Also they will probably discontinue it any day now. 2. I guess you'll have to charge it all the time. I hate charging my phone and watch already so the utility of this is not good enough to warrant that issue. 3. It doesn't solve any problem for me. It is a solution seeking a problem. Fiddle with this only to turn of my lamps which I can do from my phone? Nah thanks. I already have automation on many of my lights to follow the day/night cycle and I never even have to think of switching it manually so this is kind of a step back. I don't really see that many other features to be actually useful.

vertis 6y ago

The use of the term "Jacquard" in this context is really annoying. Jacquard is already a fashion/textiles device[1]. I get that it's trying to 'pay homage' or something, but Jacquard machines are still used today. When tech companies overload terms like this it creates confusion. Are you talking about the machine or the Google product. Another example of the same behaviour is Peloton. [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacquard_machine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacquard_machine

pvelagal 6y ago

From what i read so far from their website, there are fundamental flaws in Google’s approach to this technology. They are not defining any core experiences at all but leaving them open.. eg.1) Skip song by swiping sleeve.. 2) take picture by tapping shoulder strap.. and a ton of other touches/swipes etc to do a ton of other things..so how would a user remember what to do when they want to skip a song ? Should i tap my shoulder or touch my collar or sleeves? Which sleeve ? This will create immense confusion.. it becomes unnatural.. people will get frustrated and would simply go back to their phone to operate individual apps. When users (lets say toddlers) operate a device like iphone , they touch , drag , tap etc and respond accordingly.. and try to do similar stuff on an android device too.. if such gestures mean different things on different phones it will get frustrating..

ncr100 6y ago

This is an important step towards modularization of the cell phone and smart watch. Bring the bits you need for the journey you're taking. Leave the brick at home.

corobo 6y ago

This looks so cool! Any other company and I'd consider it. No, not you Facebook. Never you.

markdown 6y ago

Based on the ads I thought it would be able to track all your movement on a soccer or rugby pitch, and let you view that data after. Turns out it's just gaming nonsense: > A first of its kind gaming technology from adidas, EA SPORTS FIFA Mobile and Jacquard™ by Google, that creates a new experience by connecting physical football and digital gaming.

visarga 6y ago

Give it 5 ore 10 years and children will have to wear it at all times during school, you know, for their own safety.

armoredkitten 6y ago

Brb, gotta go plug in my pants

dozzman 6y ago

Not sure about the interaction aspect of the device, but it reminds me of the "Pico Siblings" required by the (now discontinued?) Pico project by my old lecturer which aimed to get rid of passwords[1]. [1]: http://mypico.org/ http://mypico.org/