[TC]² Bi-Weekly Technology Communicator
SizeUSA User Group Meeting
Accepting Registrations
By Jim Lovejoy, [TC]²
The third SizeUSA User Group meeting will be held at [TC]² on June 28, 2007, with SizeUSA users sharing some of the research and uses of the sizing information. Agenda topics include:
• [TC]²’s latest research in scanning applications and product development |
The meeting is open to SizeUSA license holders and others in the industry. Click here for the registration form. For more information call Jim Lovejoy at 919-380-2184.
[TC]² Seminar Offerings
July 11-12
Lean Manufacturing and the Importance of Cycle Time
Modular manufacturing systems reduce work-in-process, increase quality, and shorten lead times. You’ll find out how to achieve these benefits as well as understand the commitment modular requires at all levels of the organization. If you are thinking about transitioning to modular manufacturing, this seminar is a must.
Seminar Highlights: • Explore what it takes to create a modular manufacturing environment |
July 18-20
Pattern Development – One of our most well-attended courses
Learn introductory principles of fit, pattern development, and marker making. Hands-on activities include flat pattern manipulations, fabric critique, and garment investigation.
Seminar Highlights: • Learn basic pattern terminology |
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Seating is limited. To register for these seminars, click here.
Changing the Retail Landscape:
The Magicmirror™
By Kim Anderson, [TC]²
Visitors to the Cool Zone, an exhibition organized by [TC]² at this year’s SPESA Expo, were able to experience first-hand an effective mix of interactive technology. Among the exhibits was the magicmirror™—developed by thebigspace and being marketed by Paxar. The magicmirror™ is a unique and innovative technology that has the potential to change the retail landscape.
When installed in a fitting room, the magicmirror™ allows customers to engage in a fun, interactive shopping experience. As RFID-tagged clothing is brought in front of the magicmirror™, a detailed description of the garment and the available colors and sizes are automatically displayed on the mirror’s screen. The magicmirror™ can also act as a “style guide” by making recommendations for coordinating garments and accessories.
If a customer needs another size, they can simply follow prompts on the mirror’s screen to select a different size and even alert a sales clerk for assistance—never having to get dressed and leave the dressing room. Making the shopping experience easier for the customer can positively influence their purchasing decisions.
The magicmirror™ system also provides logistical benefits to the retailer. Retailers can manage inventory by tracking which garments enter and leave the dressing room and how many times a specific garment is brought into the dressing room. The information can be tied to point of sale information which can lead to quick replenishment. The data can also be used to develop a function that Paxar calls “try to buy”—allowing retailers to see how many try-ons result in actual purchases.
The mirror keeps a log of which items customers bring in together. The information gives retailers insight into how customers are coordinating apparel, which can be used to improve merchandising tactics.
Paxar has recently developed a loss prevention application which allows retailers to track the number of items a customer brings into the dressing room and if there are any duplicate items. If an inordinate number of items are brought into a dressing room, the salesperson is alerted so they can not only offer the customer additional assistance to provide improved service, but also be on the watch for possible theft.
Consumers are accustomed to using computers with touch screens. The technology is in grocery stores, banks and airports. Now it is being incorporated into the retail environment to transform the traditional dressing room into a unique and innovative service area.
For a live online demo, please go to: www.magicmirror.thebigspace.com.
The magicmirror™ at the Cool Zone
Courtesy of Paxar
[TC]² Activity
Student Intern Program Review
By April Taylor, East Carolina University and Leanne Thornton, Mississippi State University
There is that internship that everyone at school wants to have and [TC]² is that internship. Teachers start announcing it in class and sending out e-mails to make students aware of the opportunity.
Initially, the application seems a little overwhelming. Besides the general information sections of the application, there is an essay and a letter of recommendation required. Once the application sections and transcript were collected, the package was sent, and we prepared to learn whether we were selected. Richard Atwell of [TC]² phoned with the good news, and we called parents, teachers, and friends to tell them that we had been accepted to an experience of a lifetime. Everyone had tons of questions about what we would be doing and where we would be staying. The answers to all of our questions started coming in through e-mails and mail packages.
An e-mail with the names and contact information of everyone that would be attending was received, and one of the interns set up a web page so that all of us could communicate before we got to Cary. We talked about the apartments, what to bring, and what we all thought that we would be doing. We learned a little about each other and where we were coming from. The weekend arrived for us to move in to our apartments and we were all excited to meet each other and start our first day.
The six interns were warmly received by the staff at [TC]². Our first day, we took a tour around the research facility, saw some of the new software being used in the industry, and met most of the employees. We had a dinner to close out day one at [TC]².
We (the interns) started our first day with the morning meeting in the conference room. We each gave a 10-minute presentation introducing ourselves to the [TC]² employees and to the other interns. We learned valuable information about supply chain management through a short presentation from Jim Lovejoy. We played the Textile Game showing us how supply chain management works firsthand. We found the game to be highly effective to portray the planning that goes into supply chain management. After this, the interns had the opportunity to participate in SizeUSA and get a body scan.
A majority of the remainder of our first week was spent in the computer lab. A project was presented to us to work on using computer software. The assignment entails making a design in using fashion forecasting directed toward a specific target market. The designs will be digitally printed, using state-of-the-art digital print technology, onto a professional tote bag and a purse. Many hours were devoted to learning the software and doing trend research.
Sergeant 1st Class Joe Wommack, with the US Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, visited to show the body armor issued to each soldier being sent to Iraq, which is his destination. A discussion ensued regarding garment fit and comfort issues for the soldiers. Allison Osteen, of Oklahoma State University, provided details regarding the body armor products being developed there.
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The treat of the week was a visit from Mr. Dennis Horstman, the Senior Director of Global Product Supply Chain for Cotton, Incorporated. Mr. Horstman presented Cotton’s trend forecasting for Spring/Summer 2008. He also explained everything Cotton Incorporated is involved in and what jobs are available within the company. With this presentation, the interns were presented with goodies for the trend/color forecasting for Spring/Summer 2008, as predicted by Cotton.
Member Profile
Applied HealthWorks
By Karen Davis, [TC]²
One of [TC]²’s newest members, Applied HealthWorks (AHW), plans to apply advanced health informatics methods in the pursuit of solutions to the health issues affecting the lives of millions of people.
MyBodyTools is the brand name for the initial products that AHW is developing for the health and fitness consumer market. The company’s initial products, planned for release in late 2007, will be in the area of body image management, focusing on body measurement and visualization tools. Measurement data and body scans from the SizeUSA data base will be incorporated into the site - www.mybodytools.com.
Tools will be designed for people who are engaged in a planned effort to change their body morphology through some combination of fat loss and muscle gain. The tools will provide users with the ability to trend their body’s progress on important morphologic measures such as Total Body Volume, Percent Body Fat and Percent Muscle Mass. Additionally, visualization tools will be provided that open the users eyes to their morphologic objectives and progress.
Some specific product features include:
• Measuring body fat/muscle content
• Estimating diet and exercise requirements to achieve a body shape objective
• Graphically tracking key body measurements over time
• Visually tracking body image over time
• Visually comparing body image to “national standard” images
• Visually comparing body image to a desired body image
• Using visual tools to help identify garments for better fit
Jerry Lutgen, President of Applied Healthworks, spent several years in the health care industry working on the development of “health intelligence” tools and associated technical infrastructure to improve the health objectives of U.S. health plans and European governments. His most recent work was for the National Health Service of England.
Important Dates
June
14-15 |
Optimizing Design through Software and Technology. Presented by AATCC/CITDA at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. For more details, click here. |
28 |
SizeUSA User Group Meeting at [TC]² |
July
11-12 |
Lean Manufacturing and the Importance of Cycle Time Seminar - [TC]², Cary NC. |
18-20 |
Pattern Development Seminar - [TC]², Cary NC. For more details, click here. |
31-Aug 2 |
Apparel Conference of the Americas – 2007 Casa Santo Domingo Antigua, Guatemala. |
For detailed information about industry events, visit www.techexchange.com
Thanks to the techexchange site sponsors
Apparel Magazine, Gerber Technology, Lawson, Lectra, Methods Workshop and Reach Technologies.
A Look Ahead in the Newsletter
SPESA Expo 2007 Review
[TC]² Student Intern Program Reports
View previous editions of this newsletter
[TC]²
211 Gregson Drive
Cary , NC 27511
www.tc2.com
Phone: 919-380-2156
Fax: 919-380-2181
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