Clothes make the network

Filed in archive About on June 10, 2006

"wearable computers create ad-hoc wireless communities." I found this wonderful note at Roland Piquepaille's weblog. It's from 2002 but worth an entry. Howard Rheingold (picture left) said some wise words about wearable computing. Because Howard is involved in computer networks as long as I can think he develops the idea of wearable computing into the idea of social networks.

Within the next decade, though, networked social encounters may well escape the desktop, perhaps riding on clothing -- our most mobile and intimate technology. What then? Could a napster-like contagion break out among riders on a subway car? Could an ad hoc recommendation system connect you to strangers who share your commercial, intellectual, or sexual predilections?

"one day the most important factor in social success won't be who you know, but who your wearable knows."

Read more at Technology Trends: Howard Rheingold: Clothes Make the Network

Picture from Howards Site