As a fabric specialist, advise columnist, researcher and writer for J&O Fabric Store, I spend a great deal of time searching the internet , reading books, reviewing articles, and exploring the world of textile goods to find out what’s old, what’s new, and what we can look forward to in the industry down the line. And while most of the information I come across is more mainsteam than not, every once and a while I stumble on a study that really excites me. One such study that caught my attention was conducted out of John Moores University in Liverpool. The aim of this project was to develop an intuitive visual and haptic communication system using the standards and expectations of the textile and related industries with particular regard to professional aesthetic, and psychological perspectives, and the working methods of the industry; then to create a resource tool (in this case, the Logitech Wingman mouse) in order to bring the benefits of such capabilities to the buyer or consumer. In laments terms, researchers brainstormed ways to make the look and feel of fabric more tangible when viewed over digital devices such as computers.
The study goes into much more detail, but imagine that! Imagine having a way of really getting a good sensory perception of a fabric you want to purchase online, along with the added reassurance that you will actually get what you desire without the hassel of having to go thru the process of ordering samples beforehand. Through the use of this Logitech Wingman mouse, such details about a fabric ranging from its weight and drape to its stiffness and hand can be recorded and downloaded thru its scanning capabilities for accurate inquiry feedback. This is certainly a capability that would take the guess work out of fabric shopping and save all of us alot of time and frustration.
But until the idea is capable of being put to use the way it is designed to in theory, and to the degree that it would ensure consumer satisfacion, I (along with many others) will continue to make use of hardcopy samples and informative descriptions of not-so-easy-to-shop-for fabrics such as velvet, corduroy, tapestry, suede cloth and more.
Interested in reading more on the study? Check out the link below:
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