Due to the courses I teach, I’ve been doing a lot of reading up on technologically innovative textiles. A lot of it is really neat, but also somewhat expected: making textiles lighter, stronger, or better at keeping you warm or cool. Some of it is just neat, like invisibility cloaks, and knitted heart valves. And then there is the stuff that is just…weird. Like the Ebbra – an ’emergency bra’ that doubles as a face mask in the event that you get caught in a sandstorm, develop an infectious cough in a matter of minutes, find yourself surrounded by people with infectious coughs, or forget to leave your building when the exterminator tents it. And the best part is, you have a second half to give to a friend. Then there is the Hug Shirt – a wired shirt that uses electronic impulses to give the sensation of a ‘hug’ whenever a friend with a bluetooth or an iphone uses their ‘Hug Shirt’ app to send you one. The best/worst part?  It was voted one …