Digital Textile Printing could help hide solar cells in clothing
Written by admin on August 18th, 2008 in devices and gadgets.
Seems like just about everything is getting solar panels these days, such as umbrellas and handbags just to name a few. We could be looking at a future where even everyday clothing forms a source of recharging our daily gizmos. The problem is, wearing photovoltaic cells isn’t exactly - fashionable. Some researchers, however, may have a method to make them more discreet.
Researchers from North Carolina State University have come up with a process to digitally print onto textiles; patterns that match the look of unusal components incoporated in to clothing - in this case, solar cells. The idea is that the printed fabric will blend in with the solar cells, making them stand out less like a solar power converting sore thumb.
While the digital printing appears to do the trick of hiding the solar cells in this tie and suit for example, I don’t think you’ll be seeing people rushing off to grab an off-the-rack, 3 piece, 12 volt, striped suit anytime soon. Maybe Ed Begley Jr. or Bill Nye, but that’ll probably be about it.
Read more JTATM, found via Gizmodo.
Tags: AAC, dvr, players, amps
