Sony has a new device for anyone who’s ever wished they could carry their air conditioner with them on sweltering summer days.

Called Reon Pocket, the small, lightweight gadget slides into the upper back pocket of a specially designed T-shirt. Controlled with a smartphone app, it’s capable of heating or cooling the wearer via the Peltier effect, a thermodynamic principle widely used in refrigeration.

The Reon Pocket comes out of Sony’s startup acceleration program, and Sony is currently crowdfunding the device. Supporters can choose from a few different packages, if they want multiple T-shirts for instance, but a basic one including the device and one shirt costs 14,080 yen (US$130). There’s a catch, though: Sony only has plans to release the Reon Pocket in Japan at present.

According to a spokesperson, the target audience is mostly businessmen who have to wear a suit in the summer, though the company says it will judge its wider relevance based on the crowdfunding results. Right now, the T-shirts available come in men’s sizes, in small, medium, or large.

The device is not really for all-day use so much as moving between air-conditioned or heated areas, such as during the commute to work. The battery takes around two hours to charge and lasts about 90 minutes.

With the Reon Pocket, Sony joins the ranks of those working on temperature-regulating clothing. On the more tech-forward end are examples such as French label Courreges, which debuted coats with built-in heaters a few years ago, and the U.S. Army, which is experimenting with conductive fabrics that can generate heat in extreme cold. More commonplace examples include Uniqlo, which has been successful with its Heattech and Airism underlayers, and a number of brands making shirts meant to offer the comfort and sweat-wicking properties of athletic wear.

In a blog post from Sony’s startup accelerator, Yoichi Ito, a project lead on Reon Pocket, said people have become increasingly focused on functionality and comfort in their clothing. In 2017, his team started thinking of ways they could blend technology with fashion to reach those goals. Reon Pocket was the result.

Japanese buyers looking to battle the record heat this summer will have to wait, though. If the crowdfunding is successful, deliveries of the device are scheduled to begin in March 2020.

Words to Learn 相关词汇

【闷热的】mènrè de sweltering oppressively hot and humid, sultry

【通勤】tōngqín commute a regular trip between one’s home and one’s place of work

酷热难耐的夏日，想把空调随身带着到处走？索尼这款新发明很适合你。

这款名为Reon Pocket的超轻微型空调可以放进特别设计的T恤背部上方的口袋里。在智能手机应用的控制下，这款空调可以通过珀尔帖效应让穿着者感到温暖或凉爽。

珀尔帖效应是广泛应用于制冷的一种热力学原理。

Reon Pocket空调是索尼的一个众筹创业助力项目，出资者可以从几个不同的套餐中选择，比如包含多件T恤的套餐。基础套餐包括空调和一件价格14080日元（约合130美元）的T恤。不过美中不足的是，索尼目前只计划在日本发售Reon Pocket空调。

据发言人称，目标客户主要是必须在夏天穿西装的商务人士，不过索尼公司表示，将基于众筹结果来判定是否在更大人群中推广。目前供应的T恤都是男装尺码，包括小码、中码和大码。

这款空调不适合全天使用，只能供用户在无空调或暖气的地方短时间使用，比如在上班通勤路上。电池充电需要两小时左右，可续航约90分钟。

随着Reon Pocket的推出，索尼也加入了研发温度调节服装的行列。技术更先进的例子有法国Courreges品牌几年前首次推出的内置加热器的外套，还有美国军方正在试验的能在极寒条件下发热的导电面料。比较平民化的有优衣库卖得很好的Heattech和Airism系列内衣，以及多个品牌提供的舒适排汗运动装。

推出Reon Pocket空调的索尼创业助力项目负责人伊藤洋一在博客上发文称，人们越来越关注服装的功能性和舒适度。2017年，伊藤洋一的团队开始思考如何能将技术和时装相结合来实现这些目标。结果就研发出了Reon Pocket空调。

不过，打算用这款空调来抵御今夏的破纪录高温的日本买家还要再等等。如果众筹成功，这款空调最早将于2020年3月开始发货。

(Chinadaily.com.cn)