Samsung's Smart Suit, solar bag and golf shirt show it's not done experimenting yet

CES 2016: The Humanfit brand is seeing what sticks in wearable tech
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Samsung just won't quit when it comes to out-there wearable tech concepts. First we had the experimental rink controllers for Gear VR, Welt the health tracking belt and Tip Talk, for discreet smartwatch calls at CES 2016. Now its C-Lab projects are joined by fresh smart clothing from its Samsung C&T brand The HumanFit, which is already selling tech infused fashion in Korea.

Samsung was showing off a bunch of smart clothing at CES, some of it new and some of it existing tech that debuted alongside the new platform in September.

We've seen the NFC Smart Suit, in collaboration with Rogatis, before - it's actually already on sale in Korea for around $500 and lets the wearer unlock their phone, swap business cards digitally and set gadgets to office and drive modes, like some kind of next gen Patrick Bateman.

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So what's new? First up is Sol Bag, a clutch bag which charges via solar power, a follow on from the wireless charging On Bag it launched at IFA in September. So far, so misguided fashion tech collaboration. It doesn't hold any charge so will only rejuice when you're in direct light but is due to go on sale in 2016.

In fitness and sport, Samsung showed off a new version of its Body Compass workout suit which tracks heart rate, respiration and body fast levels using six sensors around the garment. Then there's the golf shirt, a collaboration with Bean Pole Golf, has NFC features similar to the Smart Suit but adds weather and UV rating monitoring.

The HumanFit spin off was created to "add technology to style" and there's a clear difference between what this brand is doing with smart clothing and accessories and the safer (in tech terms) smartwatches we've seen from Samsung itself. What matters now is if any of these devices and pieces make it out of Korea and get the real Samsung push that the fitness smart clothing, in particular, really deserves.

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Sophie was Wareable's associate editor. She joined the team from Stuff magazine where she was an in-house reviewer. For three and a half years, she tested every smartphone, tablet, and robot vacuum that mattered. 

A fan of thoughtful design, innovative apps, and that Spike Jonze film, she is currently wondering how many fitness tracker reviews it will take to get her fit. Current bet: 19.

Sophie has also written for a host of sites, including Metro, the Evening Standard, the Times, the Telegraph, Little White Lies, the Press Association and the Debrief.

She now works for Wired.


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