CSIRO developing power-generating shirts

We've seen a plethora of shirts made for more than just satisfying a core necessity in life, but a team of scientists over at the CSIRO's Energy Technology Division are hoping to have "power shirts" at your local flea market (or other fine establishments) within five years. By using piezo electrical materials, the garb could reportedly "produce electricity as you move," enabling users to juice up their DAPs, mobiles and air conditioned pants just by staying active. Other potential applications include powering battlefield-related equipment on soldiers and monitoring systems on the elderly, but making sure it can handle the oh-so-intimidating wash cycle remains a challenge.

[Via PopGadget, image courtesy of CSIRO]

[Steve Butler @ Oct 28th 2007 11:20AM]

Now we just need to wait for them to combine the horrible looking iPod jackets with these horrible looking [I assume] power shirts then get the head designer from Apple and put them all in a BlendTec blender and vola! We have a sexy looking iPod that never runs out of battery and is in the form of a hoodie!

[Steve Butler @ Oct 28th 2007 11:25AM]

Oh yeah and if they shove those pressure feedback jacket things that like punch you when you get punched on games you can FINALLY feel the pain your iPod feels whilst displaying the unhappy face!

[brett @ Oct 28th 2007 11:37AM]

coincidentally, this "shirt" also produces an increase in distance between you and any girls in the immediate vicinity...

[dsgamer21 @ Oct 28th 2007 11:39AM]

Especially if paired with air conditioned pants...

[NHAnimator @ Oct 28th 2007 12:06PM]

I think air-conditioned pants are cool.

[ron @ Oct 28th 2007 12:57PM]

Air-conditioned pants will never be as cool as smoke pants.

[Neebs @ Oct 28th 2007 1:00PM]

Or no pants.

[Neebs @ Oct 28th 2007 11:59AM]

Will it ble-*is shot*

[jperry @ Oct 28th 2007 12:55PM]

But does it play do-*is shot*

[Kurt MacD @ Oct 28th 2007 1:46PM]

Screw both of you guys, want to mix it up? Try not saying it at all hmm?

[brett @ Oct 28th 2007 2:10PM]

I, for one, welcome our girl-repelling, power-generating, vest-wearing overlo-*is beaten, shot, and set on fire*

[Neebs @ Oct 28th 2007 2:53PM]

Not saying it at all doesn't get you plus votes, duh! e-peen get!

[DickHardknocks @ Oct 28th 2007 1:05PM]

MJOLNIR MARK III armor.

NOW WITH RECHARGING SHIELDS !

[paragraph @ Oct 28th 2007 1:20PM]

i see potential uses here, firefighters, policemen, EMTs, really anyone who needs a radio or other equipment on his person would (eventually) benifit from this.

Right now it looks like it's more of a tunic/vest. Combine it with a Kevlar vest and give it to the military, that way not only can they not give body armor to the troops, they can not give technologically advanced body armor to the troops...

but seriously, if the US Military gets a hold of this, development should follow suit with every thing else and go smooth and quickly, then get blown up ;)

[MikeG @ Oct 28th 2007 7:56PM]

Oh yeah I can totally see John McClane sporting this in the next Die Hard movie

[N30 G30 @ Oct 28th 2007 11:06PM]

That's a shirt?! I thought it was a new bullet proof vest or football pads!

[Alex @ Oct 29th 2007 7:56AM]

The human body generates more bio-electricity than a 120-volt battery and over 25,000 BTU's of body heat.

Let's harness that power!