Although we are not quite at the self-drying electronic jacket stage as seen on the Back To The Future movies, companies are pushing ahead with jackets that can multi-function through in-built gadgets.

Infineon has just launched a funky Bluetooth mobile and MP3 player installed jacket called the MP3 Blue. Nice name.

The electronics are an integral part of the clothing. The electronic features are controlled by a textile keyboard incorporated on the sleeve. This new product for technologically progressive, fashion-conscious men can be ordered via the Internet beginning in early August at www.mp3blue.de

"The 'mp3blue' product designed by rosner is the world's first lifestyle jacket that implements the concept of complete integration of electronic functions." said Dieter May, responsible for Strategy and Emerging Business at Infineon. "Our novel wearable electronics concept gains momentum and we are looking forward to develop further clothes with integrated electronic solutions."



The official product presentation will take place during the CPD fashion fair in Düsseldorf, Germany. Electrically conductive fabric is sewn unnoticeably into the "mp3blue" jacket, where they connect a compact electronics module to a textile keyboard on the left sleeve, to the headphones and the microphone, which are integrated into the collar. The module contains an MP3-Player with 128 megabytes of memory, a Bluetooth gateway to control a mobile telephone, and a rechargeable battery that can supply the electronics with power for up to eight hours. As soon as the person wearing the jacket would like to place a telephone call, the stereo system becomes a headset, and the music is automatically interrupted when calls come in. To wash the jacket, it is only necessary to take the electronics module out of its holder.

It's thought by 2007, electronic clothes sales will be over a billion euros a year. But can they invent an automatic "stop your sock from getting lost" gadget by then?