For some students, touchscreen smartphones are harder to navigate during the winter months, but others are using a new kind of technology at their finger tips, making it a little easier.

With technology advancing, so is fashion.

Diane Frey, associate professor in Apparel Merchandising and Product Development, talks about upcoming trends to her students and noticed how popular texting gloves seem to be.

“The winter season helps hands get cold … and texting gloves don’t limit your usage to text because they actually work on the touch screen,” Frey said.

Texting gloves have some techonology involved including the material that allows you to use your smartphones and continue to keep your hands warm, she said.

“Fingers naturally have electromagnetic fiber from a touch and the metal fiber that is woven into these gloves, replaces that,” Frey said. “It beats having to take your gloves off every two seconds.”

No matter how much you use the gloves, Frey said people should have no problem with them working.

“Unless you purchase the cheap gloves that are woven poorly and fall apart, [students] shouldn’t have any problems,” Frey said. “Depending on the brand, the good quality gloves will last. The material won’t wear off.”

The material woven in the gloves equals the conductive touch skin gives off when touching the screen, which is one main reason texting gloves should last, she said.

Some students can’t believe they actually work as well as their own touch.

“My mind was blown that they actually worked when I first tried them,” said senior Tyler Wicker. “My friends kept putting them on too because they were so amazed and I tried to figure out how they invented them.”

Wicker was impressed the gloves were just as comfortable as regular gloves.

“It’s definitely a pretty cool and very useful invention,” Wicker said. “I also really liked how futuristic they are with all the colors and patterns offered for both men and women; it’s nice they aren’t only restricted to women.”

Not only are these text-savvy gloves for both genders, but Frey said they are also for all ages.

“This new trend isn’t an age thing  — kids, teenagers, parents, and grandparents can all wear and use them for the same reason,” Frey said. “They’ve been on all age group’s gift list.”

Frey also explained how these gloves are not only used for smartphone purposes, but offer more flexibility.

“Everything is converting to touch nowadays so people can use these for ATMs, iPads and computers,” Frey said.

Bill Whardy, Verizon Wireless sales manager in Bowling Green, remembers when Verizon carried the older phones that needed more than a gentle touch to use.

“We carried the Blackberry Storm … when you touched it, it clicked so people knew the phone was responding to your touch,” Whardy said. “Over the past couple of years though, phones have been more responsive.”

There are two types of touchscreens according to Touch Tonic, a technology accessory website, called resistive and capacitive.

The resistive touchscreen was the first touchscreen that required people to keep their finger on the screen to navigate while capacitive allows the user to swipe.

“These gloves are really useful for everyone, especially since most phones now are touch,” Whardy said.

Although these gloves seem to do it all, Frey said there are some downfalls to the gloves.

“There have been many complaints about how the tips of the fingers are colored different from the entire glove,” Frey said. “[People] don’t think it is as stylish to wear.”

Frey said she thinks the gloves will be changed so they are all one color.

“This way people will think they’re more fashionable,” Frey said. “People will still buy them no matter what.”