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The world of gadgets is becoming smarter and smarter as we human end up dumber by the day. So after smartphones, smartphone televisions and smart homes, we are convinced of the need for smart shirts. Yes, you read that right. Apparel company Arrow has just launched its new smart shirt. Actually, this is a connected shirt for those who like to stay connected.
Arrow Smart Shirt
The Arrow Smart Shirt is a regular shirt, but with a smart cuff. The cuff is what holds the NFC tag and it works only with devices that have NFC capability. The Arrow Smart Shirt app is what does the tech bit. Download the app on your phone, connect it to your LinkedIn and Facebook accounts, load your favourite app, music playlist and smartphone modes in it to start using the smart shirt.
Price: Rs 2,999
So how does it work?
Once the desired details are saved on the app, you can tap the phone on the app to save a specific function to the NFC chip. So you can have contact information from LinkedIn on the chip, or your favourite playlist. One tap on the cuff by an NFC phone and this information is triggered.
Who does it work for?
Well, if you are a business person who needs to network with people, and a bit of a show off, then this might just work. At least some people will be impressed by you walking around the boardroom taping your shirt cuff on the back of their phones. The smarter people might just prefer to tap their NFC phone with the other person’s device– after all you will be carrying the phone to get the tag to work.
Not so smart really
As I mentioned, it works only with NFC devices and yours has to be one to be able to use the tag effectively. So why not just tap the phones instead of the sleeve to pass on contact info? For other stuff, like initiating a playlist or switching to the meeting mode, it appears much more easier to just do it on the phone. It is unlikely a busy person who needs this will remember to write the mode on to their cuff before a meeting. Even if he does it will be a bit awkward if he’s seen tapping his short cuff all the time. There is another big issue, which I realised during the review: It is very tough to get hold of an NFC phone these days. The entire Apple ecosystem is out and you pretty much have just top end Android smartphones to make the cuff smart.
Should you buy?
Yes, if this is one of the three dozen shirts you posses. But don’t bother getting a Monday-Friday set to prove the world you are smart. The message just might not go across.