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Science Brings You Brighter Pants

Posted by timothy on from the we're-all-naked-underneath dept.

HobbySpacer writes "Ignored at parties? Now you can really shine in your new wild and crazy pants made from a fabric woven with scintillating light fibers and lit by LEDs. Optics.org reports on the debut this month of "sparkly clothes" made by the Italian company Luminex. The fibers were originally developed for particle physics experiments (first the Web and now this!) Science, leading us on to a brighter future..."

47 comments

  1. Now if they just made polycarbonate pants by mhesseltine · · Score: 1

    You could use the line "Do you wash your pants in Windex, because I can see myself in them"

    --
    Overrated / Underrated : Moderation :: Anonymous Coward : Posting
  2. A lot more disturbing is this: by uradu · · Score: 4, Interesting

    http://optics.org/articles/news/8/7/1/1

    Why does the world need this again?

    1. Re:A lot more disturbing is this: by mgblst · · Score: 2

      And in other news, Scientists have still failed to find a cure for cancer.

      thx fark!

    2. Re:A lot more disturbing is this: by Sylver+Dragon · · Score: 2

      Maybe its just the technophile in me, but that is cool. No more being a slave to what someone else thinks is cool and silkscreens on a shirt, now I can just download a new picture/saying/logo whatever to my shirt.
      I'll never have to change my shirt again!!
      Well ok, that might start to smell a bit, but it would be a nice cheap way to have a shirt with my own design on it. Not to mention that most of the shirts with decent artwork on them are little more than styalized company logos. Is it just me or does it seem silly to pay a lot of money to advertise for a company? I mean, they want me to pay them $20 to become a walking billboard for thier logo/slogan, WTF?
      Also with this same technology and a good vidoe capture card and I could make some good wall scrolls.

      --
      Necessity is the mother of invention.
      Laziness is the father.
    3. Re:A lot more disturbing is this: by uradu · · Score: 2

      > No more being a slave to what someone else thinks is cool

      I think you'll find that the reality will be very different. Probably the first companies to offer these shirts cheaply WILL be these shirt companies that will sell you that animated shirt for $40 in exchange for wearing a hard-coded GAP ad. You just know that many companies will introduce work uniforms with rolling commercials (e.g. pest control, plumbers, electricians, phone companies etc.). Before you know it, you'll be walking down the street and seeing a sea of moving pictures on the backs of people in front of you. Shades of Diamond Age anyone?

    4. Re:A lot more disturbing is this: by Sylver+Dragon · · Score: 2

      Damn, and that was a really enjoyable bubble you just burst.
      On the other hand though, how long before someone figures out that an ad-free shirt system would be a viable way to make money, sure I have to pay $100 for it, but to have it ad-free...
      Also, there is alway hacking. Though I guess that might be a DMCA/CBDTPA/LOSLAWMANBWTOSMCTTALN violation. I can see it now, "Sir, you are under arrest for removing the GAP logo from your shirt."
      The clothes company will start saying that we need to close the analog hole, "People are buys shirts with embroidered logos and then using rippers to remove the stitching. This is to the clothes companies what the Boston Stragler is to a woman alone at night!"
      Legal battles will ensue, laws will be written and tossed out of courts, in the end people will lose thier right to wear what they want...
      Ok, that's just silly, but I think we'll be able to to get a logo/commercial free shirt, if we are willing to pay for it.
      P.S. LOSLAWMANBWTOSMCTTALN (Lots Of Stupid Legal Acronyms Which Mean Absolutly Nothing But When Typed Out Sound Much Catchier Than The Actual Law's Name)

      --
      Necessity is the mother of invention.
      Laziness is the father.
  3. Implications? (-1 redundant probably) by illusion_2K · · Score: 5, Funny

    From the article:

    " In the future the company is hoping to turn the clothes into a 'smart' material, capable of measuring pulse or body temperature and responding to environmental stimuli."

    Well, I for one think that the implications of mood pants are pretty obvious...

    1. Re:Implications? (-1 redundant probably) by blazin · · Score: 2

      I'm gonna need to find me a bunch of stuff that goes with green in that case...

  4. It's too bad... by ThinkingGuy · · Score: 1


    ..they won't be available in the US in time for Halloween. :(

    I'd love to get my hands on, er, legs in, a pair of these!

    1. Re:It's too bad... by TRACK-YOUR-POSITION · · Score: 1

      i want to get my hands in them i put my pants on one arm at a time

  5. Jump the Shark by bwt · · Score: 5, Funny

    Did the science category just jump the shark?

    1. Re:Jump the Shark by Snafoo · · Score: 3, Informative

      I haven't heard that circumlocution before.

      For everyone else out there who's in the same boat, as it were, but hasn't gotten around to adding a google luckbutton to your Mozilla derivate,

      http://www.jumptheshark.com/

      --
      - undoware.ca
  6. Ravers rejoice! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This has been a good week for raver fashion.

  7. Soft watches, please by Observer · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Ever since I first read it mentioned in passing - "it's a Bulova Dali" - in one of Larry Niven's stories set in Known Space, I've wanted to have a Daliesque flexible and functional watch woven into the cloth of a shirt cuff. Now, as the technology is gradually approaching the point where this might be feasable for the first time, we get... Disco Trousers?

    Oh dear.

    --
    Bulova(r) is a registered trade mark of Bulova Corporation. Dali ought to be a registered trade mark, given his eye for the commercial main chance.

    1. Re:Soft watches, please by Tablizer · · Score: 2


      How about starting a trend where your watch is on your butt.

      Then when strangers ask what time it is, SHOW THEM!

      --
      Table-ized A.I.
    2. Re:Soft watches, please by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That may be easier to implement than you think. It would require 60 fibers (120 if you wanted a shorter hour hand, 180 if you wanted a unique second hand as well).

      60 micro-LEDs, watch microchip, battery. there you go.

      But for all practical purposes, it would be silly to have 20 watches embedded in your clothing rather than a traditional watch. Almost a Polish Watch, except they would have one on each sleeve, so they could wear the same shirt two days in a row.

  8. Excellent Efficiency! Captain by Tablizer · · Score: 5, Insightful


    It makes it easier and quicker to know who to shun at parties. Girls then don't have to actually talk to you to know you are a dweeb.

    --
    Table-ized A.I.
    1. Re:Excellent Efficiency! Captain by Zordak · · Score: 1
      Please. It makes it easier to know whom to shun at parties.

      Incidentally, grammar nazis don't do well at parties, either. Fortunately, I'm already married and the only parties I attend include a (compnay-sponsored) summer barbecue and a (company-sponsored) christmas party.

      --

      Today's Sesame Street was brought to you by the number e.
  9. Brighter Pants? What I need... by David+Leppik · · Score: 3, Funny

    is a pair of emergency pants!

  10. wow by fredopalus · · Score: 0

    Look at me everybody. My name is fancy pants! Now all i need are some wearable computers.

    --
    Jonahweb.com has stuff.
  11. Maybe not a full shirt by loftwyr · · Score: 1

    But Could you imagine going to a rave with stripes or lines of this on your clothes? Forget black light reactive, this stuff will go no matter what lights are on.

    I want to know where I can get this stuff!

  12. Pants that need batteries?! by OmniSynth · · Score: 5, Funny
    When glow-in-the-dark clothes just aren't good enough.

    Actually, if done tastefully (ha!), you might end up with some pretty nifty stuff.
    I refuse to walk around as a floresent marquee all day though.
    Not to mention that it's going to be hell for teens trying to sneak back home after curfew.
    Quick! Turn off your clothes, or your mom will see us!

    Rudolph with your pants so bright, won't you guide my rave tonight?
    Sorry. It might be too early for that last one.

    --
    Madness takes its toll.
    Please have exact change.
  13. wallpaper and customized skins! by Vuzz · · Score: 5, Funny

    How about pants with downloadable skin from the net to go with it. Feels just like Winamp.

    Better yet, wallpaper for your pants and shirt!The possibilities are endless.

    --Vuzz

    1. Re:wallpaper and customized skins! by Suidae · · Score: 2

      How about clothing with wireless networking so you can be a walking billboard in exchange for cheaper admission to themeparks?

      And you could have the chance of hacking someone elses pants.

      Imagine if everybody at a sporting event had network addressable clothing, the stands would be one huge scrolling marquee.

    2. Re:wallpaper and customized skins! by netsharc · · Score: 2

      The mental image of man staying in the middle of a theme park with a picture of the surroundings on his shirt brings "What about invisibility!" to my head. Well not really, but a chameleon-esque clothing that makes you blend with the background would be cool. Then we can just blend into the lockers in the girls' locker room..

      --
      What time is it/will be over there? Check with my iPhone app!
  14. Impressive, but.... by dacarr · · Score: 1

    I won't be completely impressed until they implement this technology in spandex.

    --
    This sig no verb.
  15. Tron? by alexandre · · Score: 1

    All i ever really wanted, Tron's clothes! woohoo! ;-)

    1. Re:Tron? by Tablizer · · Score: 1

      Tron pants? I think they sell those in Chyrnobol, Russia.

      --
      Table-ized A.I.
  16. Tetris! by SniffleBear · · Score: 1, Funny

    Hook up a game controller to programmable LEDs on your butt

    1. Re:Tetris! by darkwiz · · Score: 2

      This gives me some really bad mental imagery involving the straight line and 'L' shaped pieces...

      At least we don't have a pure brown LED yet...

  17. Safety issues by Chroneos · · Score: 1

    Do they employ Daytime Running Pant Lights (DRPL) or is that not mandatory until the 2004 models?

    --
    ------------ Ben Chroneos
  18. I wanna see... by TerryAtWork · · Score: 1

    A guy run from the cops wearing one of these, like I saw on a cop show with those LED flashing shoes...

    The cops were shitting laughing....

    --
    It's Christmas everyday with BitTorrent.
  19. Pants by sulli · · Score: 2

    Fluorescent pants are still optional, except for you.

    --

    sulli
    RTFJ.
  20. Glowing pants? by inio · · Score: 5, Interesting

    pffffff... Glowing pants?

    What the world really needs are glowing undergarments!

    Oh, whoops, seems they have those covered (in the middle).

    1. Re:Glowing pants? by Tablizer · · Score: 2

      Glowing condoms? I dunno.

      "Mommy! can I sleep in your bed tonight? I saw a ghost worm barfing in the neighbor's window and I'm scared!"

      --
      Table-ized A.I.
  21. Interesting, BUT by glh · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I think it is a nice concept, but I don't like the fact that it needs a battery. I wondery why they can't make it work off human body heat (like armpits and groin)? Perhaps the battery wouldn't be a problem if it was soloar powered (maybe it is?).

  22. One disturbing implication we can all relate to by Zen+Mastuh · · Score: 2

    Say you wear one of these shirts and someone hax0rz The Gap's image server with a goatse.cx redirect. Imagine trying to explain away that one!

    --
    "What is the sound of one belly slapping?"
    1. Re:One disturbing implication we can all relate to by uradu · · Score: 2

      > Imagine trying to explain away that one!

      Especially if the image is on your back and you have no idea it's been changed.

    2. Re:One disturbing implication we can all relate to by Happy+Monkey · · Score: 1

      Or worse - a closeup of the offending bit on the back of the pants.

      --
      __
      Do ya feel happy-go-lucky, punk?
  23. Solar powered lights... by cornjchob · · Score: 1

    i see nothing wrong/redundant with that.

    an inflatable dart board is another good idea :p

    --
    We now have confirmed reports from an informed Orange County minister that Ethel is still an active communist.
    1. Re:Solar powered lights... by ahfoo · · Score: 2

      Try this link. A/

  24. mmm....glowing bosoms by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No ad compaign is complete without clevage

  25. Phacking? by absterge · · Score: 1

    The last time I tried to hack somebody's pants, I woke up in a cell with a black eye. Apparently, she was trying to prevent unauthorized duplication.

    --
    Try my nuts to your fist style!
  26. solar powered leds. Are you seriously that stupid by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That would be like having a water powered car in the desert.

  27. Re:solar powered leds. Are you seriously that stup by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I think the poster meant to specify photoelectric rather than solar. It's a good idea actually, you just need to use a collector that is tuned to the infrared bandgap. Such things exist.