A future with Accessibility Sewn in

An image holding the black chip the "Jacquard chip" that is by Google is black no larger than a stick of gum, but slightly wider.

October 5, 2019

People who live with disabilities often have to adapt – in fact, they do so almost every day. Technology is beginning to step in to make it easy to navigate life and experience it in all facets. Jacquard by Google is a series of collaborations that combine garments with technology; the Levi’s Trucker Jacket with Google Jacquard is one of these collaborations and it is yet another stride toward an accessible modern world.

All is for All has trialed the Levi’s & Jacquard collaboration from an accessibility perspective and will be taking you through the features of the jacket, how to set it up and explaining the ways in which this jacket can make your day-to-day more accessible. Paul Dillinger, VP Global Product Innovation of Levi Strauss & Co has said, “Two years after we first launched Jacquard the technology has become smaller and more discrete, more affordable and with more useful [features]. …but the premise and purpose remain the same: you can keep your phone in your pocket and your eyes on the world around you, staying connected without being distracted”.

A professional image taken by Levi's - a close up of the sleeve with the Jacquard device inside. It is no larger than a stick of gum is black and wider - it has Jaquard printed on it. But in this image the Jaquard device is tucked into its port at the sleeve. You can see that the top of the device sticks out of the device with a light showing, that is white. The device vibrates as well as showing the light. — Image from the Levi’s Jacquard Campaign

Jacquard by Google is a small black tag, as in the image above. The Jacquard is no larger than a stick of gum but is slightly wider. The Jacquard connects to an app on your phone and four simple commands which you activate by touching the sleeve (that are later explained) trigger different actions on your phone. The Jacquard also lights up and vibrates with different alerts.

THE SET UP

This is a screenshot from the Google Jacquard App. You can see a black outline slightly cartoon-ish drawing of the Levi's denim jacket

The Jacquard tag needs to be charged first, via the USB that comes with your jacket and device. The tag takes 3 hours to fully charge. You start by downloading the Jacquard app, selecting the item you own (which in our case is the Levi’s Trucker Jacket) and connecting the Jacquard tag and the app together. Once the two are connected you insert the Jacquard tag into the port for the device which is located on the sleeve of your Levi’s jacket. This is the same process as occurs for most Bluetooth devices. We found the set-up super quick and easy.

TRIGGERING THE COMMANDS

This image is a screenshot from the app, showing a command brushing down the sleeve past where the tag sits.
This image shows a screenshot from the app. An outline image of a hand , arm and the device lighting up with an alert

The four commands possible with Levi’s Jacquard are triggered by swiping down your sleeve, swiping up your sleeve, double-tapping your sleeve and holding your hand down over the sleeve. Each of these are subtly done, the movement must come into contact with the tag, the tag will vibrate when it connects with your movement.

PERSONALISING THE COMMANDS

As is in the video above, once all is connected you’re able to personalise what is enabled by each of the movements. This version of Jacquard has more functions than any other. A list of the Jacquard’s abilities is here.

An image by Levi's of a woman in black jeans and the blue trucker jacket, she is inserting the tag into the sleeve the image is a close up of her doing this in her lounge; behind her is a couch that is brown and a house plant. — Image from the Levi’s Jacquard Campaign

THE FEATURES WE CHOSE FOR ACCESSIBILITY

On my daily commute, I often have to stop pushing my wheelchair in order to change the music, or I have to choose an entire playlist in advance. By making the brush in and brush out commands ones which play and change music, I am able to have more immediate control to change what I am listening to, without having to stop my commute. This may seem like a very small activity, but accessibility is about giving people more agency and independence; which is what this feature has done for me.

I made the trigger Google assistant to read out my calendar appointments to me. I have found this feature easier than consistently having to find and navigate my phone. The cover or hold down command turns off the Jacquard tag.

I have triggered the Jacquard to alert or vibrate for new calls and texts when my Uber is near-by (I almost always Uber) and also the tag will alert when I am separated from my phone. The Jacquard will audibly read out the details of your Uber. I have found these to make my day to day navigation easier, by giving me simple moments in the day – where I can have more agency.

Video showing the Uber assigned to the Green Alert (it flashes and also vibrates so there are two sensory cues)

Levi’s is advancing, with Google – a future with accessibility and technology sewn in. This is yet another example of the fact that accessibility is something which benefits everyone; the features of this jacket were designed to enhance daily life, but the mix of audio and visual cues, the ability to give individuals ease and agency make this garment and the piece of technology – ideal for those with disabilities.