Clothes can make phone calls, play music, dial your pal's number, keep you warm during cold weather and operate your computer.
This is not a fantasy. A British company, called Electrotexiles, has created a wide range of clothes—clothes that have minds of their own! Scientists, working for the company, have invented a kind of fabric that can be mixed with flexible electronic materials to create intelligent clothing. The results are electronic garments.
If you think the weather has to be wired to different devices, think again. These designer clothes are wire?free, soft to touch and washable! Like any electronic device, these high?tech clothes have to be powered. Currently, a tiny nine?volt battery serves the purpose. But the researchers hope that in the near future the clothes will generate electricity by using body heat. These clothes are 100% shockproof, they say.
The Electrotexiles team has also created the world's first cloth keyboards. These keyboards can be sewn into your trousers or skirt. To use this device, you will have to sit down and tap on your lap! These “l(fā)aptap” devices are all set to take over laptop computers!
Another useful garment is the shirt?cum?mobile phone. This handy invention enables drivers to chat comfortably with others at the wheel! Other popular electronic wear includes the denim(牛仔布) jacket with flexible earphones sewn into the hood and the electronic ski jacket with a built?in heater. The ski jacket is also programmed to send signals to a satellite. This technology is known as global positioning system and can be used to track lost skiers and wandering kids.
Having completed the cloth keyboard, scientists have already started to work on a new project—a necktie that can be used as a computer mouse. What is the next? Do you have any idea?
1. The electronic garments are similar to other electronic devices in that_____________________.
A. they feel smooth and soft
B. they use electricity as power
C. they can be washed in water
D. they are made from flexible materials
2. How will researchers improve these high?tech clothes?
A. Body heat will be used as power.
B. The wearer will not get shocked.
C. A tiny nine?volt battery will work.
D. The clothes will get charged automatically.
3. The main purpose of the text is_____________ .
A. to advertise an English company
B. to predict the future trend of clothing
C. to show how rapidly science develops
D. to introduce some intelligent clothing
4. It can be inferred that the author's attitude towards the company is _____________.
A. negative?? B. worried?? C. positive?? D. doubtful