This week we want to know all about ... Solar-powered clothing

You are on a long walk listening to your iPod only for the battery to go flat. But now scientists are at work on a solution that would keep the music playing by effectively turning you into the battery: solar-powered clothing.

Flexible solar cells, which can be incorporated into jackets, trousers and any other garments, are only a year away, says Fujitsu Siemens. The cells work like solar panels, converting light into energy. The wearer would plug in gadgets such as phones or MP3 players to a special pocket on the garment, which in turn connects to the solar cells.

Sunlight permitting, the solar-cell garments could provide a much-needed boost to battery technology, which has struggled to keep up with power-hungry advances in mobile devices.

Dave Pritchard at Fujitsu, said: 'Within a year it will be possible to design clothing with solar cells on the back or arms, so you can recharge wearable devices.' He said the clothing would be useful on the ski slopes, outdoor holidays and for the emergency services. It would also appeal to the environmentally conscious as a means of reducing power consumption.

Hitachi is also working on flexible solar cells at its UK laboratory in Cambridge. Koichi Tsuzuki, head of research and development in Europe, said a full jacket of solar cells exposed to four hours of daylight could provide battery life for a typical day's use.

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