Permanent, and removable, options for wearable garment functionality are being developed in the Micro-Dress project. These innovations can have benefits for each individual consumer and combine to bring about positive intended consequences for society. However, like all innovations, they also have potential for disbenefits and unintended negative consequences. These can lead to, for example, damage to brand identity. Consider, for example, the protests against the company, Benetton, when it put radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags into its clothing to improve its supply chain management. RFID is a technology that enables the remote storage and retrieval of data using tiny devices called RFID tags/transponders. RFID tags contain antennas to enable them to receive and respond to radio-frequency queries from an RFID transceiver. RFID technology enables tracking of moving objects. There was no evidence that the intentional tracking of people was an actual state of affairs. Nonetheless, privacy protection groups were concerned that Benetton could undermine the privacy of its customers. Until now, disbenefits and negative consequences have received little, if any, consideration within new product development (NPD). The purpose of the paper is to propose improvements to NPD screening processes, which can facilitate reduction of disbenefits and negative consequences that can arise from new manufactured goods. The application of improvements to NPD screening processes are necessary to ensure that innovations in wearable garment functionality can be introduced with confidence and can have a positive long-term future.
For more information please visit: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/17410381211234435