Friday, January 23rd, 2009
#PANiQ at the Outdoor Retailer Show!
PAN client QIO Systems, makers of PANiQ controllers and fabric for PANiQmode apparel, officially launched the company today at the Outdoor Retailer show in Salt Lake City to great reviews. We’re especially proud of QIO because they’re what PAN calls a “boomerang client,” or one that’s been with us before, left for one reason or another but returned.
QIO systems is a new entity spun out of a former client called Eleksen, which pioneered “smart fabric” for wearable electronics. QIO’s launch into the consumer market today introduces a device that lets people control personal electronics –iPod, iPhone, cell phones, walkie-talkies–through their clothing. No more fumbling inside your pockets to change the song on your iPod or answer the phone. Just swipe a fabric button on the sleeve or lapel of your jacket and keep skiing, or hiking or biking or whatever else you were doing.
The wearable electronics market is not new. Several manufacturers have been at it for a while with different approaches and results, but none have ever really made their mark as a true consumer electronics company. QIO should change all that with it’s PANiQ brand of devices and compatible clothing from apparel manufacturers like Killa, on&on, Summit Wired, celio*, Bailo and other brand names from urban and high-fashion houses.
In keeping with PANiQ’s hip, young theme we found an amazing artist named Jake Reese who works with Sharpies (yep, the pens). His canvas for the Outdoor Retailer show? T-shirts. You can find his site here. Some shots of his work at the show are below. Great job, PANiQ!
