Futuristic clothes that compute may soon be pressed into action

KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
ONE DAY YOU ARE WEARING A GRAY JACKET. IT'S A NICE ENOUGH COLOR AND IN STYLE THIS YEAR. AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET BORED. THE GRAY WILL SUDDENLY ALTERNATE TO A GRAY, RED AND GREEN JACQUARD. THE MATERIAL CHANGES COLORS WHEN HEAT IS GENERATED, THANKS TO THE VISION OF PAINTER MAUREEN ORTH, WHO RECENTLY EXHIBITED IT AT THE COOPER HEWITT MUSEUM IN NEW YORK.
IT MAY BE SLIGHTLY FUTURISTIC, BUT ORTH WON'T GIVE UP. TIME MAGAZINE SAYS SHE WANTS TO CREATE CLOTHES THAT COMPUTE. SHE HAS ALREADY PRODUCED A JEAN JACKET WITH A BUILT-IN SYNTHESIZER AND KEY PAD EMBROIDERED ON THE LAPEL THAT MAKES SOUNDS WHEN PRESSED. AND THINK OF THE ATTENTION YOU'D GET AT A COCKTAIL PARTY IF YOU'RE WEARING HER DRESS MODEL THAT "LIGHTS UP LIKE A FIREFLY."
ONE OF TIME 'S RECENT "INNOVATORS," SHE DOES IT BY WEAVING METALS INTO SOFT FABRICS AND PROGRAMMING THEM WITH A FUNCTION.