Budget UK airline EasyJet is to roll out futuristic new uniforms to cabin crew with sensors and wearables next year.
Announcing the news in a recent press release, the airline confirmed that it has teamed up with clothing company CuteCircuit to create cabin crew uniforms embedded with sensors and LED lights, with the first of these uniforms to be rolled out during trials in early 2016.
For crew members, LEDs will be embedded on jacket lapels so to relay information like flight number and destination. There will also be built-in microphones so that crew members can communicate more efficiently amongst themselves and with staff on the ground.
Engineer uniforms will feature reflective components and include LEDs to increase their visibility, while the jackets will also include built-in cameras and a microphone so engineers can get assistance when diagnosing technical issues. An air quality sensor and barometer will be installed on the jackets so engineers can monitor their work environment.
“With features like the LED hood and video streaming and communications capability these amazing designs offer very practical solutions for engineers working on the ramp whilst enhancing safety at the same time,” said Ian Davies, engineering director for EasyJet, in a statement.
Tina Milton, Head of Cabin Crew for EasyJet, commented: “Our crew’s primary concern is for the safety of all passengers so it is really exciting to be working on this pioneering new technology which could transform the capability of our uniforms, helping crew to be more easily identified in an emergency as well as helping them to provide great service to passengers.”
Smart clothing is increasingly becoming commonplace, with retailers in particular seeing the potential of this technology to gain more visibility on their customers and products. Scientists at MIT recently created sportswear that can determine how much your sweating and ventilate itself to cool you down.