Wearable Electronics
Hands-free, voice-directed wearable computer for extreme environments
October 11, 2006 Enterprise Mobility Company Symbol Technologies yesterday introduced a new wearable mobile computer and scanner system for high-performance computing in extreme environments. Worn on either the wrist or the hip, Symbol's WT4000 series of wearable mobile computers allow users to move freely and scan data, access business-critical information, and accurately perform data entry in real-time. For maximum flexibility, Symbol’s new wearable mobile computer also offers headset support for voice picking. (read more...)
Philips shows production-ready Lumalive textile garments
September 2, 2006 The world’s largest consumer electronics trade fair, Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA) opened in Berlin yesterday, and one of the big stories is the demonstration of promotional jackets and furniture featuring Philips’ innovative Lumalive technology. Lumalive fabrics feature flexible arrays of colored light-emitting diodes (LEDs) fully integrated into the fabric - without compromising the softness or flexibility of the cloth. These light emitting textiles make it possible to create materials that can carry dynamic messages, advertisements, graphics and constantly changing colour surfaces. Fabrics used in drapes, cushions or sofa coverings become active and designers can use different inputs to change the illumination based on user behaviour. Prototypes of the technology were first exhibited at IFA 2005 but unlike those early example, the products on display at IFA are ready for commercialization, particularly by companies in the promotional industry looking for a new, high-impact medium. We can’t wait to see what the design industry can do with these capabilities. (read more...)
Casio reclaims the title of world's smallest GPS watch
August 23, 2006 Casio was the first watch manufacturer to create a wristwatch with a built-in Global Positioning System (GPS) way back in June, 1999 with the release of the SATELLITE NAVI as the top model of the outdoor watch series, PROTREK. It created a new genre of wrist worn devices but alas, in the ensuing seven years, the likes of Garmin, Suunto and Timex have come out with smaller, more elegant wrist worn GPS solutions but as of September 30, Casio will be back with the smallest GPS watch available in the form of the GPR-100 priced at JPY54,000 (USD$464). To achieve its goal, Casio has had to develop a “microminiature high sensitivity GPS reception antenna of length 19mm” and a small advanced GPS module (11mm-12mm). The result is the world’s lightest GPS watch, weighing just 64 grams, and the world’s smallest GPS watch at 63.1mm x 49.5mm x 17.1mm. (read more...)
The EgoKast - wearable personal video player
August 15, 2006 Unlike other members of the animal kingdom which reproduce sexually, human beings have one significant difference which greatly complicates the criteria for desire and selection – humans can think. Humans apply not only physical, but societal, cultural and economic criteria to desire and selection and we suspect that the way things are heading with wearable technologies, things are set to become even more complex in the near future. The field of wearable electronics began not all that long ago with rudimentary devices such as heart rate monitors and high tech wrist watches, but will stretch its boundaries beyond belief over the coming decade as displays, microprocessors and sensors invade our clothing. Their function will be quite diverse, from monitoring health, to helping us meet compatible people for business and pleasure to simply expressing who we are, and fashion will take advantage of new technologies to offer expression in ways we haven’t even considered yet. Somewhere between the TuneBuckle and the flexible displays in Nyx clothing is the EgoKast, a Personal Media Player with a 3.5 inch 320x240 pixel screen that can double as a belt buckle to display the true you in video format at 30 fps for up to five hours. The manufacturers of the US$289 Egokast are hoping the word will catch on as a term describing “media players turned outwards” and is creating a range of appropriate videos to continuously loop as well as promoting the use of original, personal video content to display our values to our public. Almost certainly at some point in the near future a man or woman will choose their life partner based on the catchiness of their personal video content displayed outwards. At least it makes more sense than some of the mating rituals of the past and present. (read more...)
LandWalker 3.4 metre exoskeleton hits the market
August 4, 2006 Last year we reported on the world's first 340cm bipedal exoskeleton, the extraordinary Land Walker. The Sakakibara-Kikai Land Walker weighs 1000kg and shuffles along at 1.5kmh. Now Japan Times (via BornRich) is reporting that the Land Walker is on the market and selling made-to-order for 36 million yen (US$312,000). There’s a great video available here. Lots more detail in the original story. (read more...)
Motorola and Burton Snowboards launch second generation of Audex wearable electronics
August 4, 2006 Motorola and Burton Snowboards this week announced the expansion of their joint Audex wearable electronics collection at the 2006 Burton New Zealand Open Snowboarding Championships. Available at select Burton Authorized Retailers this month, the new 2007 Audex collection offers the ultimate blend of technology and snowboard function, enabling easy wireless communication and music entertainment for consumers on the move. New for 2007, the Audex Bluetooth Stereo System allows consumers to stream downloaded music wirelessly from a compatible Bluetooth enabled mobile phone to the Audex jacket allowing users to listen to music and make calls with a push of a button on the jacket sleeve. Outerwear styles that feature this system include built-in DJ-style speakers in the hood and/or an integrated headphone jack. (read more...)
Electric Cinderella Shoes with built-in stun gun
May 10, 2006 The Electric Cinderella shoes idea began as part of Simona Brusa Pasque's thesis at the Interaction Design Institute in 2002 and was inspired by a beautiful woman who Simona interviewed for her thesis who wanted to be able to “intimidate her intimidators.” She wanted to be empowered without losing her femininity, to have the freedom to be sexy without fear. The shoes certainly achieve that, offering 100,000 volts of high fashion stun gun power which can be activated by a control on the matching necklace. The weapon is hidden and when the wearer taps on the matching necklace an electric spark is displayed in the transparent tip, warning the would-be assailant to back off. The weapon is designed for a one time use, in case of emergency, by breaking the tip of the shoe. The shoes have now evolved through several prototypes with earlier versions exhibited at SIGGRAPH 2005 in Los Angeles, at Nemo Museum, Amsterdam, and at Pica Museum in Perth, Australia with the latest incarnation getting its debut outing at the recent CTIA Wireless Fashion Show in Las Vegas. “I believe this type of capability is a dream of many women and it is my intention to bring it to market,” Simona told Gizmag. Simona is seeking "the right business partners." Excellent images! (read more...)
Multimedia headset with attitude
April 17, 2006 One of the more visually arresting wearables on display at the recent CTIA Fashion in Motion shows was this vertebral wireless interface to be worn around the head and neck. A distinct possibility for a sci-fi horror movie role, the vertebral form of the Synapse concept came to University of University of Bridgeport student David Salonen in a dream, and has created such interest that he is interested in discussing options on how to bring the idea to market. “It’s completely free from buttons, plugs, wires and doohickies,” says David, “and an ideal way to stand out from the masses of umbilically-connected techno babies." (read more...)
Triple Watch Cell Phone design
April 14, 2006 The Triple Watch Cell Phone is a wrist watch that can be transformed into a cell phone. You can slide the unit out of the wristwatch band, and extend it to use it as a normal cell phone. As a wrist watch, it would have a speakerphone button that allows the user to answer the phone and hang up while driving or the user can combine the Triple Watch with a Bluetooth headset. The Triple Watch Cell Phone was conceived by University of Bridgeport student Manon Maneenawa and won the US$10,000 Fashion in Motion Scholarship at CTIA WIRELESS 2006 last week in Las Vegas. (read more...)
The new Blancpain Women Collection
April 14, 2006 Ever since 1930, Blancpain has been firmly convinced that women are well able to appreciate the know-how and the magic of mechanical horology. The Blancpain tradition of feminine Haute Horlogerie timepieces is thus no recent development, but instead boasts a rich and diverse history. Over the past 75 years, Blancpain’s numerous achievements in this field have included the first ladies’ self-winding wristwatch, the smallest round movement and more recently the world’s thinnest perpetual calendar. From an initial role as a purely functional object, the wristwatch has become a piece of jewellery or an accessory accompanying a particular clothing style. This graceful transformation has proved fundamental to contemporary watchmaking. While the Blancpain ladies’ models created in the past can lay claim to many world firsts, Blancpain has never dedicated an entire collection to women. Accordingly, and for the very first time and coinciding with the arrival of spring, Blancpain is revealing how it has imagined and developed its approach to feminine mechanical timepieces. Far from being mere reductions or adaptations of existing men’s watches, the three first models making up this collection were specifically developed to meet the expectations and desires of contemporary women. The hours of the BLANCPAIN WOMEN collection are exclusively feminine. Remaining steadfastly faithful to its roots in the Vallee de Joux, Blancpain has endowed each of its women’s watches with a meticulously hand-finished and decorated mechanical self-winding movement. Nonetheless, the Manufacture is now exploring an entirely new path by creating a collection that is completely innovative in terms of its aesthetics. (read more...)
The World’s First Water-Resistant Bluetooth Headset (with 3 weeks standby time)
February 26, 2006 Sometimes it takes a breakthrough to recognise what you’ve been missing. Would you buy a car that you couldn’t get wet? You don’t need to be a red-blooded, its-only-a-flesh-wound kinda guy to find yourself caught in the rain occasionally … and wanting to talk on the phone at the same time. Well the announcement by French Bluetooth specialist Bluetrek of a Bluetooth headset for extreme conditions makes so much sense that the rest of the headset world must surely follow suit – at least with water-resistant models. The X2 is designed for active outdoor use and its makers claim it has the ability to function in extreme conditions, but in some circumstances, the work and home environments can be just as hostile as the great outdoors. Indeed, the specs of the X2 make so much sense that it immediately becomes the headset to have, partly due to the no-brainer waterproof functionality and partly due to its extended battery power that offers up to 14 hours of talk time and 500 hours (three weeks) of standby time. The X2 will be available inside a few weeks for UKP59 or 79 Euros. (read more...)
New official Formula One watch manufacturer
February 24, 2006 For the first time in the history of the Formula 1, a company, the Austrian watch manufacturer Jacques Lemans, has purchased the exclusive rights to use the brand “F1”. The sport Formula 1 watch collection was presented at the massive Inhorgenta International Trade Fair for Watches, Clocks and Jewellery this week in Munich. Not surprisingly, the new F1 multi-functional chronograph models are designed to reflect the myth and philosophy of Formula One and will be manufactured from appropriate Formula 1 materials such as carbon fiber, rubber, Coutchouk, Titanium and ceramics. There will also be ladies’ models in pink with mother of pearl. (read more...)
CTIA Wireless Fashion Show entries close March 10
Last year we called it the most visible technology showcase on the planet. This year, although in many respects, CTIA WIRELESS 2006 is already the most important technology event of the year, it will be even better! The CTIA WIRELESS show is the premiere global event representing the complete wireless, mobile computing and wireless Internet industries. CTIA WIRELESS 2006 brings together all industries within telecommunications and all those affected by wireless technology for three days of intense learning and networking. For the past six years, CTIA WIRELESS has conducted the Fashion in Motion show - the HOT technology fashion show that fuses the world of high fashion with the latest wireless technology. This couture style runway show showcases the latest wireless devices and accessories on the market today, as well as the futuristic technology of tomorrow. Now CTIA is taking it to the next level and by offering CTIA Fashion in Motion Scholarships to technology and fashion university and college students from across the globe. If you have an idea or concept or prototype for wearable technology, this is an opportunity to showcase your ideas to the world (entries close March 10). See our extensive photo galleries of the 2004 show and the 2005 show. CLICK HERE to download the CTIA Fashion in Motion Scholarship Program Entry Form. (read more...)
Bluetooth-enabled Audex jacket with inbuilt speakers
January 23, 2006 UPDATED IMAGE LIBRARY Motorola and Burton Snowboards have announced the commercial availability of the Bluetooth-enabled Audex Jacket Series. Jointly developed by Motorola and Burton to bring wearable technology to active consumers, the new Audex jacket allows winter sports enthusiasts to experience seamless connectivity -- at the touch of a button -- from one environment to the next. At the center of the Audex jacket is a control panel located on the left-hand sleeve, allowing for simple and easy access to your incoming and outgoing calls, and music selections. Connect a compatible Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone to the panel wirelessly, while hooking up your iPod player via hidden, unobtrusive wires within the jacket. Speakers and a microphone are located in the hood for taking and making calls as well as listening to music. (read more...)
BlackCoat with integrated iPod controls
January 16, 2006 Apple sold 14 million iPods in the Christmas quarter of 2005. Which accounts for why there are 700 iPod accessories soon to be wearing Apple’s “Made for iPod” logo – 700 different products which are all iPod accessories - no wonder Apple decided to charge a fee to trade off the success of its iconic MP3 player. As we’ve already noted, the world’s automotive manufacturers are clamouring to offer iPod integration and now the first wave of wearable technology manufacturers are doing likewise. One of the latest announcements is from Kyono which is marketing what it hopes will become the male equivalent to a woman’s ‘little black dress.’ The BlackCoat Work is a lightweight jacket made from water resistant stretch cotton and is scheduled for release in March 2006 at US$179. The BlackCoat Work is one of four new lightweight outerwear designs for Spring 2006 that will include integrated controls for Apple iPods. As with similar MP3-player jackets already released, the BlackCoat Work user hooks the iPod up to the jacket and controls the play, pause and volume controls from the sleeve. (read more...)
Levi's to launch iPod compatible jeans
January 14, 2006 Invented in 1873 by Levi Strauss, Levi's Jeans are the original jeans and have long since become the most recognised brand and most widely imitated product in the history of apparel – and somehow it seems entirely appropriate that Levi’s is getting together with the world’s modern day technological equivalent brand – Apple’s iPod - the lowest (figuratively of course, Steve) common denominators are getting together and we expect the synergies to be very powerful. Levi's is planning to introduce RedWire DLX Jeans in the Northern hemisphere autumn of 2006. Designed for both men and women, the jeans will seamlessly integrate an iPod docking cradle built into the jeans and "invisibly" housed within a side pocket. There’s also a special joystick incorporated into the jeans' watch pocket to enable easy operation of the iPod without removing one’s hands from one’s pockets. (read more...)
MYVU Personal Media Viewer for Apple’s iPod Video - Hands Free, Head-up Access to a Large Virtual Screen
January 12, 2006 The Macworld Conference and expo regained some of its former sparkle yesterday, with Apple’s star again on the rise thanks to the iPod becoming the high-tech darling of the masses and the announcements of Apple’s new Intel relationship. One announcement that missed prime time yesterday but could be very significant in the near term was MicroOptical’s myvu personal media viewer. The myvu viewer, which comprises eyewear with built in video viewing and audio systems, significantly enhances the way people watch video with an Apple iPod. We’ve previously written up the success of the MYVU in France, where under the Orange brand it is paired by France Telecom with a Samsung D600 cell phone, but when the masses realize they can can have a hands-free, heads-up access to a large virtual screen by connecting to their video iPod, well, cyber serf city will never look the same again. (read more...)
The TuneBuckle – turn your iPod nano into a belt buckle
January 11, 2006 There’s always a better way. No matter how clever an implementation, there’s always some improvement to be had and our “bloody marvelous idea” award of the day goes to the TuneBuckle - a unique and innovative way to protect and transport your iPod nano – turn it into a belt buckle. Made from high grade metals (aluminium or stainless steel) and leather, the TuneBuckle comes in sizes 30-46, and will cost US$49.95 when it goes on sale. (read more...)
Wearable data storage market evolves
January 7, 2006 One wonders what we might carry with us “digitally” a decade or two from now, with memory and storage capacity getting larger and much more affordable every day. Imation got us thinking about this by showing several interesting concepts for carrying digital files at the CES – the 256 Mb Flash Wristband and the 4Gb Micro Hard Drive. They’re interesting concepts, particularly the wristband, but just think that a decade from now the bang-per-buck factor will have improved by several orders of magnitude. (read more...)
Shrewd digital and analogue watch
November 17, 2005 For ubergeeks, and presumably for children learning how to tell the time, the SHREWD is a symbiosis of LED & analogue technology that looks for all the world like a normal stainless steel watch. Press the button though, and a red LED display lights up with the digital time displayed. When the LED display is off, there is no hint on the watch face that this feature exists. There are more features, but that’s the coolest one. Costing US$189.95, the SHREWD can be purchased here. (read more...)
More wearable electronics: the ‘FAT CONTROLLER’ Snow Glove
October 16, 2005 O’Neill Europe recently announced the latest addition to the H.2 Series range of wearable electronics with the arrival of the ‘Fat Controller’, a snow glove that incorporates a wireless remote control for Apple’s iPod MP3 players. A limited number of the new gloves will be distributed throughout Europe this coming winter at a retail price of EU139 Euro. The ‘Fat Controller’ uses radio frequencies to relay instructions to a module installed on top of the iPod. Tune selection is managed from a small, thumb-controlled joystick woven in to the top of the right-hand glove that mirrors the behavior of the iPod’s scroll wheel. By nudging the joystick to different points of the compass the wearer can play/pause, adjust volume and skip tracks without having to remove the iPod from the inner sanctums of a snowboard jacket. (read more...)
New Heads Up Displays enter the work place
September 13, 2005 Not long ago, we were waxing on about the incredible feat performed by Motion Research in bringing the world's first consumer Heads Up displays to market for motorcyclists, cyclists and auto racers. Now we're equally as enthusiastic about the company's new consumer Heads Up displays, knowing full well that the functionality afforded by the displays could change the face of the modern workplace. VersaVue Heads Up displays are now available for commercial and industrial applications. (read more...)
The Equaliser watch
Always edgy, the Japanese design community is producing short runs of digital designer watches using new techniques and computer aided design. A prime example is the "High Frequency" by Equalizer, a watch using LCD/LED displays to create a new era of contemporary watch design. Just as the watch business unfolded in Switzerland, the Japanese designers are hoping their design and production techniques will “revolutionize how watches are made”. (read more...)
Photonic textiles - fabric becomes an intelligent display
September 2, 2005 One of the most interesting new developments to go on display at the important Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA) 2005 show which opens later today will be Philips demonstrating its developments with photonic textiles—fabrics that contain lighting systems and can therefore serve as displays. With the development of this new and unusual technology, Philips Research is pointing the way toward a new age in the long history of textiles. At first glance, objects such as clothing, towels, upholstery, and drapes would seem unlikely places on which to place intelligent and interactive systems. Yet these low-tech objects figure prominently in our lives. By integrating flexible arrays of multicolored light-emitting diodes (LEDs) into fabrics—and doing so without compromising the softness of the cloth—Philips Research is bringing these inert objects to life. (read more...)
RAZRWIRE Bluetooth enabled sunglasses redefines hands-free mobility
July 26, 2005 Motorola and Oakley have announced that the much-awaited RAZRWIRE Bluetooth eyewear will be available in the US in early August at US$300. RAZRWIRE combines Oakley optics with Bluetooth wireless technology so you can listen to a Bluetooth MP3 player or carry on phone conversations while up to 30 feet away from your compatible Bluetooth-enabled cell phone. It also means you can hike, run, row, play or ride a bike, as Lance Armstrong regularly demonstrated over the last month during the Tour de France when he was regularly seen wearing his RAZRWIRE species. (read more...)
