Fashion!
Anyway, I had a thought that we might see the end of the third facet of fashion one day by empowering the other two. In other words, by offering an increased range of functionality and methods of self-expression (not just buying someone else's), people might have enough motivation to purchase items solely for those qualities. I imagine this will take some serious applications of technology, and will require acceptance of a new paradigm, but the potential is there.
Clothing is the most straightforward case. As it stands, clothing only functions as insulation and sometimes as storage space (pockets). One possibility that has been prodded at over the years is the potential for power-generation: either through kinetics (generates power as you move) or solar power (photovoltaics applied to surface). I don't think these have been developed much yet, and adoption remains low, but I think many people would be very interested in having portable power now that portable electronics are ubiquitous. The dead cellphone when you need it most is enough of a reason. From what I've read, developments in solar cells are now allowing printability and flexibility, which would be necessary for any reasonable clothing mainstay. If these could operate sufficiently well under things like streetlamps, then it might be sufficient to just use solar. Otherwise, kinetic power generation will work any time of day, and might be the dependable choice. Another option that I haven't heard anything about is thermoelectric clothing. This seems a reasonable avenue of attack, since the body is a pretty stable heat reservoir, and this source would be completely dependable (short of death!)
Cont...
Clothing is the most straightforward case. As it stands, clothing only functions as insulation and sometimes as storage space (pockets). One possibility that has been prodded at over the years is the potential for power-generation: either through kinetics (generates power as you move) or solar power (photovoltaics applied to surface). I don't think these have been developed much yet, and adoption remains low, but I think many people would be very interested in having portable power now that portable electronics are ubiquitous. The dead cellphone when you need it most is enough of a reason. From what I've read, developments in solar cells are now allowing printability and flexibility, which would be necessary for any reasonable clothing mainstay. If these could operate sufficiently well under things like streetlamps, then it might be sufficient to just use solar. Otherwise, kinetic power generation will work any time of day, and might be the dependable choice. Another option that I haven't heard anything about is thermoelectric clothing. This seems a reasonable avenue of attack, since the body is a pretty stable heat reservoir, and this source would be completely dependable (short of death!)
Cont...