Andino R. Ward

So, how are those new underwear, that you just purchased fitting you right now? Since you started wearing them, are you getting a tingly feeling in your lower region? Is there a sudden pep in your step, dip in your hip, glide in your stride? Are you feeling a sense of free and wild abandonment, all because of your new underwear?

Or, do you think your losing your mind, because of the new found exhilaration and excitement that you're experiencing below your waist?

Well fear not! It is not your imagination and you're not going crazy. What's really happening is that you are the proud owner of "SMART UNDERWEAR"! That's right the underwear that you have on are intelligent. This ground breaking technology was created at the University of California San Diego, by Professor Joseph Wang who specializes in Nano-engineering and a team of scientists. Doctor Wang and his team have designed high-tech underwear that may one day save lives.

Now, of course, I was joking in the opening lines of this piece, about your undies giving you a new lease on life, but that perspective is not really far off. You see, the smart underwear that Dr. Wang and his team are responsible for, have sensors in the waistband that can monitor a person's blood pressure, heart rate, and other vital signs. It is also anticipated that the underwear will one day have the ability to release drugs into the body that will help relieve pain and treat wounds.

All of this new technology, as wonderful as it seems, is not yet available to the public, but is actively being used by the military. Exactly what the military is using smart underwear for is still a mystery and I would guess top secret. Although the military is actively using the smart underwear, the technological range of applications does and will go far beyond the military.

Dr. Wang is very clear in indicating that one of his visions, for smart underwear, is rooted in personalized medicine that will move into the area of remote monitoring of the elderly at home as well as monitoring a wide range of biomedical markers like cardiac markers that will send an alert out for a potential stroke, diabetic changes, and other changes related to a number of other biomedical situations and scenario's. Wearable smart underwear will also have biosensors, which will be able to provide incredibly valuable information to athletes regarding their physical conditioning, and injuries. Another application of the smart underwear will be to measure blood alcohol levels, without the need for an actual sobriety testing.

Now, if you think that the new technology is only happening in your underwear, don't bet on it. If you're an avid movie goer, but hate it when you're sitting in the theater, intensely watching a movie and then someone's cellphone goes off, fret no more. There is now a cell phone-detecting shirt that is worn by the theater ushers and will detect mobile communications devices that haven't been switched off during the movie. The smart shirt is the brain child of Richard Etter and is part of a new clothing line called, "Aware Fashion". For all intent and purpose, the shirt looks like a standard fashionable shirt. However, if a mobile phone or phones get near the shirt and are on, the shirt will glow unobtrusively at the end of its sleeves, alerting the usher to the fact that there is a cell phone or phones active in the theater.

Don't think that what I just talked about is it in smart wear. There is so much more and what about the question of privacy and weather you will even know that you are buying a piece of smart clothing? Think about that. You could be walking around, right now, wearing smart wear and not even know it and the worst part is that someone, somewhere, could be monitoring your every move, or what's happening in your underwear. The thought of that is so scary that I think I may have soiled myself. Now, deal with that whoever's monitoring my underwear! The entire idea of smart apparel is incredible because there is so much, in the way of imagination, that is being applied in the design and types of apparel.

Well, have no fear because at present, there are no plans to make the current crop of smart clothing available to the public without full knowledge and disclosure of the garments having intelligent technology imbedded in them. It would appear that the main thrust of using smart apparel is aimed more at the military and the healthcare industry, which makes perfect sense as there are clearly very practical uses for the technology in those arena's. Thus, you have no need to run home and empty your underwear drawer and start going over your "tidy whities" with a magnifying glass, as well as talking to them as if you are trying to communicate with whoever you think is monitoring you.

Now let's continue looking at some very interesting smart creations. Let's imagine that you are on a business trip, and have been away from your spouse and children for about two or three weeks. Of course you probably talk to them by phone or by video over the internet, but it would really be great to have them with you, in a more personal way, throughout the day. Will now you can. You see, your spouse and children, although 1000 miles away, can sense that you are feeling down, because you miss them and they can speak very sweet, soothing words that you will be able to hear through your nice, fashionable shirt.

Just imagine, your family will be able to talk with you and offer words of comfort like "Take it easy, it's all right, we miss you and love you" and the words will coo from your collar combined with being able to hear your favorite song being played as well as photos of your family scrolling across your chest and it's all happening on your shirt. This entire initiative is the brain child of a program called Wearable Absence project. The programs Researchers are working on developing intelligent textiles, which will comfort the wearer by creating wonderful memories of their absent loved ones. The cool thing about this technology is that it can read your body's vital signs and emotions, which will then prompt the garment to exact a specific healing response from the family member or members who are a great distance away.

Envision being able to listen to your iPod, talk on your cellphone and use a Bluetooth all at the same time and it's all in your "Bluetooth Jacket". That's right, a "Bluetooth Jacket". A company called Zegna Sport is responsible for the first jacket that has the previously indicated name and functions. The Jacket is both lightweight and waterproof with sleeves that contain the devices to control your iPod and cellphone. While, the jackets collar contains a Bluetooth interface and microphone to give the wearer the ability to dial and talk on their phone. The jacket is very stylish and fashionable with a sports motif to boot.

There is even a smart fabric that derives its purpose from nature and the pinecone. The UK based Centre for Biomimetic and Natural Technologies created a fabric that adapts to changing temperatures by opening up when warm and closing tight when cold just like a pinecone's scales do in nature. This is just one of the emerging developments in the ever expanding world of "biomimetics". Biomimetics is the science of applying nature's principles to human engineering and design and is, ironically, a very old concept as is obvious in birds and man's entry into flight. Whales and man's creation of the deep sea submarine and the list goes on.

The aspect of smart technology and what we wear is fascinating and the implications are truly incredible. We have seen marvelous advances in the area of smart communications technology as is present in the iPod, ipad, iphone and a host of other devices and now there is smart apparel that will provide a host of new and exciting technology that fits on your body and interacts with it as well. Taking one last look at smart technology, just imagine that you're a person with no rhythm, but you want to go out and Salsa dance. Of course you know that this is terribly impossible because you have 2 left feet and the potential for dislocating your spine.

So, you just happen to be sitting up late, watching television and there it is, "Salsa Sox's"! That's right, they are smart sox's that when worn will make you the king or queen of Salsa. So you order a pair, slip them on and Oh My Lord, within seconds your feet start moving, you hear Salsa music in your head and you are there. Within a week, you are the talk of the town as you annihilate the dance floor and become the Latin Ricky Ricardo and you owe it all to Smart Salsa Sox's. Hey, don't laugh, it could happen and may already be on its way to an infomercial near you for $19.95 a pair and if you order right now, you get an additional pair for free and a complete set of CD's to help you learn Spanish. What a deal!!

That's right! You can read all of the interesting tidbits on the wonderful world of information technology and more online. Just go to thereporteronline.com and hit the blog section and there we are.

Bardissi Enterprises would like to extend our sincere thanks to our new customers who have contracted with us for the provision of managed information technology solutions and service. We are pleased to be providing IT Solutions for the following new companies:

• Manhattan Door Corporation
  Carlstadt, NJ
• Starr Insurance
  Chambersburg, PA
• Budget Printing & Marketing
  Doylestown, PA

Keep informed! Check out Bardissi Tech Talk every Monday in The Reporter and The Times Herald's business sections and every Tuesday on the front page of the Phoenixville News lifestyle section.

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