Digital "mashup" = a digital media file containing text, graphics, audio, visual, or animation which modifies existing works creating a derivative work. Digital text mashups, for example, appear every day as blogs and online forums copy and paste digital text in juxtaposition to comment on topics of interest. We also check out video and audio mashups regularly too (what's up Youtube) often juxtaposing commercially produced video clips with popular songs and vice versa. Digital mashups represent a new phase in the re-use of existing works.
Professor Baldwin threw the term "mashup" at us in class a few days ago and I thought I'd do a little web browsing to see what I could find on the topic. Apparently textile industries have been using metallic yarns for many years for decorative purposes, but now "wearable computers" are merging into everyday clothing. The first "conductive fabric" was silk organza, constructed by perpendicular weaving of two threads: one of plain silk, and the other is silk wrapped in thin copper foil. (See below)
Work is being done to integrate circuits, keyboards, and other electronic devices into fabrics. Clothing of the future!
I also read a couple articles that discussed ways that these "smart fabrics" can repel bacteria and monitor physiological signs. Check it.
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