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
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Inside Elon Musk’s War on Washington
- Meet the 2025 Women of the Year
- The Harsh Truth About Disability Inclusion
- Why Do More Young Adults Have Cancer?
- Colman Domingo Leads With Radical Love
- How to Get Better at Doing Things Alone
- Cecily Strong on Goober the Clown
- Column: The Rise of America’s Broligarchy
Contact us at letters@time.com