Watch Me Now
Clothes that play video may not fit everyone.
Dear David Berman:
Recently, you contacted me by e-mail regarding the Video Vest brought out by your company, Wearable Video. Basically, this device would allow me to walk freely among my fellow humans while advertisements - "in stereo sound," according to your press release - play on my clothing. I am not averse to making money. (Seriously. Ask around.) And being a walking billboard hasn't seemed to do any harm to the tennis players and stock-car drivers of my casual acquaintance. However, I think it would take me a while to get used to the video part of this. Look at what happened to that woman who showed up at Logan dressed as a pinball machine. It did not go well. And I would not like it at all if, one day, I were walking down the aisle at a Pontifical High Mass and my vest suddenly started blaring some commercial for toothpaste, male-enhancement nostrums, or hair-replacement therapy. People would stare. I don't think my subsequent excommunication would do the products being advertised any good, either. "Try Gulp Cola. It's What All the Heretics Drink!" Not good at all. I am intrigued by the technology, though. I don't know why you should limit it to commercials. People should be able to walk around wearing their favorite movies or TV shows, too. Say you missed the previous night's episode of Lost. You can watch it on someone in the subway the next morning. It's human
Charles P. Pierce
Cpierce@globe.com 