South Korean Outdoor Brand Develops Winter Jacket Smart Wear That Automatically Controls Humidity And Temperature
South Korean manufacturer of quality mountain clothing Black Yak has developed a winter jacket smart wear called the "YAK ON H," which comes with an automatic function of regulating the humidity and temperature of the wearer.
Korea JoongAng Daily noted on Monday that YAK ON H also comes with a GPS system to constantly guide the wearer of his or her location.
Black Yak's latest smart wear, launched earlier this month, is equipped with a heating textile at the back and a connecting device linking the winter jacket to the wearer's smartphone in order to regulate humidity and temperature.
"The jacket will aid customers who want to enjoy outdoor activities in the cold winter," said managing director at Black Yak, Park Jung Hoon.
The YAK ON H smart wear is available in three models, with the most expensive one being sold at $1,300.
Blak Yak's winter jacket is among the many smart wears being unveiled by various lifestyle companies.
According to Fortune on Sept. 15, famous American clothing line Ralph Lauren has also launched their "PoloTech Shirt" smart wear that is capable of detecting the wearer's heart rate, stress levels and energy output through sensors attached to the garment that transmits data to the wearer's smartphone app.
Hexoskin has also reportedly unveiled their tank tops used by athletes. Athos also have their long-sleeved shirts that transmit physical data to sensors linked to a Bluetooth, while Physiclo's shorts and leggings boost calorie burn during exercise.
U.S. information technology firm Sysco believes that the market for wearable devices - including various gadgets and clothings - will expand to 177 million by 2018, with companies being increasingly interested in the smart wear department.
"Growing concerns about health management has led to an increasing number of people wanting to check their lifestyle habits and vital signs," noted Kim Jin Hee from the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (Kotra).
Tech analyst Gartner recognizes the advantage of smart wear in the tech industry in an article published by Digital Trends on Nov. 29, 2014.
"Smart shirts can hold more sensors closer to the skin," said Gartner. "They can collect more information and produce better data, like the full wave of the heart beat rather than just the pulse.