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"Human beings hardly ever learn from the experience of others. They learn; when they do, which isn't often, on their own, the hard way."
- Robert Heinlein

Wearables (Wearable Computers)  
  Computers and peripherals that use textiles for electronic circuitry.  

Very slick implementation of an idea that has been around for a while (see the references below for more).

Wearable computers, what a concept. IBM PC meets Epiphany-brand high-fashion. In fact, Robert might have mistaken his new wardrobe for ordinary clothes. True, the shirts and pants were not a style he favored. There were embroidered patterns both inside and out. But the embroidery was more noticeable to the touch than the eye; Juan Orozco had to show him special views to reveal the net of microprocessors and lasers.
Technovelgy from Rainbows End, by Vernor Vinge.
Published by Tor in 2006
Additional resources -

The general idea of wearable computers has been around (in computer science) since the early 1960's. The notion of being able to make use of fabric-based components is relatively new; science fiction authors pioneered these ideas. See the sleeve communicator from Murray Leinster's 1945 story First Contact and (even better) the sleeve watch from Larry Niven and Steve Barnes' 1981 novel Dream Park.

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Additional resources:
  More Ideas and Technology from Rainbows End
  More Ideas and Technology by Vernor Vinge
  Tech news articles related to Rainbows End
  Tech news articles related to works by Vernor Vinge

Wearables (Wearable Computers)-related news articles:
  - T-Shirt Computing And Vinge's Wearables
  - Google's Project Tango VR Tablet Pictures Your 3D World

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