We’ve seen our share of wearable technology, but the Lumalive from Philips is a first. This new technology integrates the LEDs directly into the material. The new process leaves no visible trace of the LEDs, but the design performs exactly the same as it would with traditional LEDs.

Aside from all the obvious fanciful applications of the Lumalive, I can see this as actually being useful for a lot of practical applications. It could foreseeably be integrated into runner and cyclist vests to alert drivers to their presence, amongst other things. A production ready model will be demonstrated at IFA 2006.

Philips illuminates IFA 2006 with production-ready Lumalive textile garments [via Popgadget]