How Animatronic Clothes Work

bethr writes "TechnologyReview.com has an article about the inner-workings of the animatronic clothes featured at a recent Paris runway show. The dresses use computerized motors and monofilament wires to radically transform from one style to another. From the article: 'Zippers closed, cloth gathered, and hemlines rose — all without human assistance.' You can see the finished product in the second half of a video of the show."

Comments

The future of clothing?

[Salvance]

So basically, women in the future will walk around naked with lampshades on their heads? This seems like integrating technology in clothing just for shock value ... I can't imagine most women will want to wear giant hats just so they automatically change/rearrange their clothes.

However, I think there will certainly be some really cool tech clothing in the future. For example, Philips has displayed really cool animated LED t-shirts (if you haven't seen the video, check it out here), that if they could be made washable would probably spread like wildfire through our schools. Integrated music, computers, and even temperature control are possible/probably in the near future.

Just the beginning.

[gt_mattex]

Think of the possibilities.

You could have a shirt or pant made of micro-filament optical cord giving you the ability to change the color of your shirt on the fly. Hell shoes are already 'helping' you jump higher it seems pretty straightforward that clothing that can assist you in other ways would be next.

fun stuff

[capologist]

This could have some interesting practical joke potential. Gift somebody some clothes, keep a remote control for yourself...