The US federal government has devoted at least $22 million to the development of clothing that can monitor the wearer and their surroundings.
The project, codenamed SMART ePANTS (Smart Electric Powered and Networked Textile Systems), aims to create clothing that can record audio, video and geolocation data.
The project is being implemented under the auspices of IARPA, an analogue of the military agency DARPA. Shirts, trousers, socks and even washable underwear are also expected to go into production.
Contracts for the development of smart clothing have already been signed with five organizations, including defense contractors Nautilus Defense and Leidos.
Technology can also assist staff and responders in hazardous environments, such as crime scenes or weapons control. However, there are concerns about possible violations of civil liberties and privacy.
Source: Ferra
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