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Somebody still reads «Return from the stars» by Stanisław Lem. Spray-on clothes were part of Lem’s version of the future.



I thought of "superskin" in Heinlein's Friday.


The same book came to mind, but in the context of bodypainting. How long before we can make an inkjet body painter--I'm thinking of some print arms that rotate around the body on actuators that keep them very close to the skin. Careful motion tracking of the body to ensure it's spraying the right bit of skin as it moves. (I have a hard time imagining a printer that's fast enough to hold a position for, not to mention the need to breathe.)

And where exactly does that fall in terms of indecent exposure? Make sure the bits that the law requires covered have solid patterns at that point, it seems it would be legal.

(On the other hand, I have doubts about the practicality of wearing body paint in ordinary life--what can be durable enough to take what life routinely dishes out, but easy to remove? He also missed the fact that people only in bodypaint should follow nudist convention and sit on a towel.)


I don’t think that wearing a tight polymer/sprayed on clothing is a good idea like at all. Various issues arise, e.g. maintaining hygiene and overheating. Also it may look cool, but I bet that subj dress actually felt awful (not that fashion models weren’t used to it).


I doubt she was wearing it for very long, nor does it appear thick. I doubt there's much in the way of thermal problems. For hygiene--it's simply a dress. I see no reason she can't lift it like any other dress.


That was my first association as well.


If I'm not mistaken it also shows up in Earth by David Brin.




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