Looking Radiant

Using items of clothing as mobile message boards is a ubiquitous form of expression. So how can you stand out from the crowd? Try getting illuminated. Philips Research's Lumalive combines red, green and blue LED pixels to form an array of colors beneath any fabric's surface. The LEDs are housed in a flat plastic sheath, which is connected to a control driver containing the battery and a playlist of preprogrammed images. SMS texts can be sent to a GSM receiver enabling a variety of new messages. (The Lumalive parts are easily removed for laundering.) London-based industrial designer Ron Arad describes Lumalive as "great, and like every other technology that is launched for some trivial thing, it has the potential for fantastic uses." Possibilities include emergency workers' clothing and sportswear for joggers. It puts a new spin on getting energized. www.lumalive.com/whatislumalive/videos