Gizmag: Wearable Electronics

Dancepants - keep running or the music stops

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:58:10 -0600

When did running get so complicated? Remember the good old days when going for a run was as easy as changing shoes and heading out the front door? Now, there’s a plethora of running gear and gadgets - ranging from heart rate monitors to state-of-the-art running shoes. It seems that not many runners leave home without their MP3 players either, but would they be prepared to work hard for their music? The Dancepants kinetic music player is a new design concept that would see runners harnessing their kinetic energy to power their music player. Yep, you’ve got to keep moving to keep grooving...

Tags: Charging, Concept, Exercise, Kinetic energy, MP3, Music, music player, Running

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‘Nice Cup In Bra’ - the world's weirdest golfing accessory?

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:19:53 -0600

There seems to be a rush on inventive underwear this week with our second - and even more impractical - example coming from Triumph International Japan, who twice a year unveil a concept bra that highlights a popular trend or draws attention to social issues. Earlier this year saw the Konkatsu Bra designed to help Japanese women on the hunt for a man. The latest bra is designed to appeal to the growing numbers of female golfers in Japan looking for a unique way to practice their putting...

Tags: Concept, Golf, Japanese, Women

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Implantable Silicon-Silk electronics could mean LED tattoos

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:52:37 -0600

Tattooing dates back to at least Neolithic times and has experienced a resurgence in popularity in many parts of the world in recent years. Advancements in tattoo pigments and the refinement of tattooing equipment has seen an improvement in the quality of tattoos being produced. Today it’s possible to get ink that glows under UV light, but a new technology could see tattoos that emit their own light. Researchers have been able to build thin, flexible silicon electronics on silk substrates that almost completely dissolve inside the body, paving the way for embedded LED tattoos that offer much more than just aesthetic appeal...

Tags: Electronics, Flexible, Implant, LED, Medical, Research, Tattoo

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I see what you're saying - NEC's ‘Tele Scouter’ retinal-display translation glasses

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:13:43 -0500

The days of a Universal Translator like the one that made chatting between alien species a non-issue in Star Trek might be some way off yet. But a new device from NEC is definitely a step in the right direction for those of us on planet Earth looking for a way to communicate with other language speakers that doesn’t involve a human translator or a well-thumbed phrase book. The prototype device called a “Tele Scouter” is a glasses type display that translates the foreign language being spoken by a partner and projects the translation onto a tiny retinal display...

Tags: Camera, Display, Glasses, Hands-free, Language, Microphone, NEC, Portable, Prototype, Translation, Translator, Wearable

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Time to think globally - the wn-2 Earth watch

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:22:18 -0500

Much like the recent spherical Eris watch, here’s another way to tell the time that is a little “out of this world”. Japanese not-for-profit organization Think The Earth has released the wn-2 watch, featuring a tiny replica of the Earth that rotates in the same direction and at the same speed as the real thing. By offering a view similar to that seen from orbit, the creators hope the wn-2 (which stands for “watch Northern Hemisphere”) will encourage the wearer to put things in perspective and consider the world around them. ..

Tags: Dome, Earth, Environmental, Glass, Japanese, Orbit, packaging, Rotate, Seiko, Time, Watch, Water resistant

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Wearable antennas promise shirts with satellite link

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 05:48:20 -0500

Gizmag has always had an interest in "smart clothing", whether it be a jacket that warms you on icy slopes, a coat that delivers an electric shock to ward off physical threats, vests that double as health monitors or even a concept bra that's supposed to help in the search for a husband. The latest research being conducted in the area involves flexible antennas which can be embedded in clothing, allowing the wearer to communicate with low-orbiting satellites wirelessly and exchange greater levels of information, including GPS positioning...

Tags: Antenna, Communications, GPS, Military, Wearable, Wireless

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Time to relax with the StressWatch

Sun, 27 Sep 2009 21:10:23 -0500

Most of us need a little bit of stress in our lives to operate effectively - the saying: “if it wasn’t for the 11th hour I'd never get anything done” rings true for many of us. But those with highly demanding jobs, or who live in stressful environments, know how damaging long-term exposure to stress can be. The StressWatch concept is intended as a stress-reducing device that provides a visual alarm for those sufferers who want to reduce the impact stress has on their health. In the past, Gizmag has witnessed a few stress-relieving devices like the HeartMath emwave PSR and the 'stress sensor vest' - it seems stress just won't leave us alone, so we better learn to deal with it...

Tags: Health, Monitor, Relax, Stress, Stresswatch, Watch

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Dicota's award winning BacPac Control with built in ipod controller

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:13:21 -0500

With increasingly convenient technology comes ever-inventive ways to take it from one place to the next. Dicota has unveiled the BacPac Control, featuring room for a notebook up to 15” with the added bonus of an iPod controller integrated into the bag’s shoulder strap. ..

Tags: Backpack, Bacpac, Design, Dicota, Headphones, iPhone, iPod, Notebook, USB

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Concept bracelet phone leaves electricity behind

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 22:53:34 -0500

For fashionable folk who enjoy the simple life but still need to be in contact with the rest of the world, comes the Leaf wearable bracelet phone concept. Great if you’ve run out of pockets or don’t want to carry a handbag, the Leaf is a wearable bracelet phone that incorporates solar cells for power on its front panel. Inspired by photosynthesis, the Leaf is pretty basic - good for making calls and texting only. However, designers Seungkyun Woo and Junyi Heo say it’s main objective is to “remind people that they can contribute to energy efficiency.”..

Tags: Bracelet, Design, Leaf, Nokia, Phone, Solar, Wearable

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Retsu watch changes the face of telling the time

Sun, 09 Aug 2009 23:38:45 -0500

Not so long ago anyone in the market for a new watch was faced with a relatively easy decision – analogue or digital? Those simpler times are but a distant memory with the release of more and more watches that set themselves apart with weird and (not always so) wonderful ways of telling the time. The latest to join the party is the Retsu watch from TokyoFlash, which uses a column of ten LED lights to indicate time instead of the traditional hands and numbers...

Tags: LED, Watch, Watches

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New limited edition chronograph for Ferrari fans

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 08:31:35 -0500

Ferrari fans wanting to ‘wear their hearts on their sleeves’ and show their allegiance to the dancing horse brand have a new option with this limited edition timepiece - the Lap-Time Chronograph. The watch features precise Swiss movement; special functions such as a tachometer, split times and digital alarm; some distinctive Ferrari branding - and of course, it's red...

Tags: Design, Digital, Ferrari, Watch, Water resistant

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Orb Bluetooth headset redefines the ear-ring

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 01:30:36 -0500

 Although Bluetooth headsets have come a long way in the style stakes, you can still look and feel a bit like a dork getting about town with one permanently affixed to your ear. Also, since they are usually designed to mold to the shape of the ear, they can be a little awkward to stuff in a pocket when not in use. An innovative new Bluetooth headset called the Orb solves this problem by transforming from a wireless earpiece into a ring that can be worn on your finger...

Tags: Audio, Bluetooth, Bone Conduction, Headset, Wireless

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ECCO: The handy GPS locator on a keyring

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:42:52 -0500

Thanks to personal navigation systems, the days of getting completely lost whilst out wandering are well and truly behind us. GPS navigation systems can now show you 3D representations of your surroundings, give you multiple routing options and can even let you know if there's a good restaurant nearby. You can buy units to mount in your car, on your bike or on your wrist and can now even get GPS capabilities in most modern mobile phones. But if all you want is to be able to find your way back to where you started from as quickly and easily as possible then the ECCO personal GPS navigator might be of interest. ..

Tags: GPS, Keyring, LCD, navigation, Navigator, Satellite, USB

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The Eris spherical watch - planetary in name and nature

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:04:52 -0500

While time itself is becoming an increasingly valuable commodity in today’s hustle and bustle world, there is certainly no shortage of innovative timepieces to help us keep track of it. Inspired by the recently discovered dwarf planet Eris, this example does away with the conventional two dimensional approach to timekeeping, instead using a globe design featuring “floating” hands that glide around the “equator” of the watch. ..

Tags: Accessory, Design, Geneva, Watch, Watches

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Calvin Klein shades boast built-in USB data storage

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 01:29:44 -0500

Given the increasingly-strange places USB Flash drives turn up these days – from Swiss Army knives to penguins – nothing should come as a surprise. But it still seems odd that ck Calvin Klein would decide that what the world wants right now is a 4GB USB data storage device built into a pair of designer sunglasses. ..

Tags: Calvin Klein, fashion, Flash drive, Sunglasses, USB

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Anti-paparazzi clutch bag gives pushy shutterbugs a taste of their own medicine

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 06:43:06 -0500

Celebrities looking for a way to combat those pesky paparazzi that doesn’t involve fisticuffs and a less than flattering mug shot will want to hope this new "anti-paparazzi device" makes the jump from concept to commercial availability. The concept is basically an LED flash built into a clutch purse that emits a photo ruining flash of its own when it detects the flash from a camera. ..

Tags: Camera, Concept, LED

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Plantronics Voyager PRO Bluetooth headset - function before fashion?

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:38:02 -0500

Plantronics has earned a well-deserved reputation for sound quality with its Voyager series of Bluetooth headsets. While the latest addition to the line, the Voyager PRO, might come off second best in a beauty contest against trendier styled headsets such as the Aliph Jawbone PRIME, it could be hard to beat in the area that really matters – sound quality. ..

Tags: Bluetooth

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New Vuzix video eyewear actually look like glasses

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:33:59 -0500

Vuzix has been a pioneer in the world of video eyewear, introducing the virtual reality video visor, the AV310 widescreen experience and now, video glasses that won’t make you look like you’re auditioning for Star Trek. In fact, the new Vuzix Wrap 920AV doesn’t simply combine a 60-inch viewing experience with the look of fashion sunglasses - you can actually see right through the screen into the outside world...

Tags: Display, Monitor, Screen, Sunglasses, Video, Virtual Reality, Vuzix

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Solar powered LED Cap brims with light

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:58:25 -0500

New Zealand-based company 2C is selling a range of solar powered LED caps that charge up during the day to provide light at night. All the energy gathering, light-emitting technology is located in the semi-flexible pre-bent beak of the caps including the solar panel and the NiMH battery used to store it. ..

Tags: LED, Light, Lighting, Solar, Wearable

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Along comes a spider - UREWERK UR103T watch

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 03:34:21 -0500

URWERK hasn't done anything to damage its reputation for avant-garde timepieces with its latest addition to the UR103 range. The UR103T keeps time by means of four rotating satellites that sweep past the minute arc at the bottom of the face and there's also a "control board" on the back which includes a 43-hour power reserve indicator and a chronometer for accurate time-setting. Anyone who can guess what the "t" designates deserves a prize - it's not "titanium" or "timepiece", but "tarantula", a reference to the arachnid inspired aesthetics of the watch mechanism...

Tags: Watch

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Metal detecting sandals delve the depths of fashion

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 01:00:09 -0500

Are you a beachcomber who is sick and tired of lugging around a hand-held metal detector as you search for buried treasures? Well, your prayers have been answered with these Metal Detecting Sandals that can pick-up objects buried up to 2-feet underground. ..

Tags: Footwear, Wearable

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OLED data glasses give wearers an eyeful

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 22:11:33 -0500

You don't need to work for the secret service or as a jet fighter pilot to appreciate the sheer convenience – and craftiness – of being able to grab hold of crucial information, without so much as lifting a finger or batting an eyelid. Students at the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany are developing a pair of interactive data eyeglasses that can project an image onto the retina from an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) micro-display, making the image appear as if it's a meter in front of the wearer. While similar headwear only throws up a static image, the students are working on eye-tracking technology that allows wearers, with just the movement of the eyeball, to scroll through information or move elements about...

Tags: Data Glasses, Display, Fraunhofer, Head Mounted Displays, HMD, OLED

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Concept bra to help Japanese women on the hubbie hunt

Tue, 19 May 2009 04:27:35 -0500

“Concept” and “bra” aren’t two words you’d typically expect to go together too often. After all, a bra is the epitome of simplicity. As Seinfeld's George Costanza once remarked, “Two cups in the front, two loops in the back. How do they do it?” Well, Japanese lingerie maker Triumph International has complicated the humble undergarment with its concept “Konkatsu bra” – a bra that is designed to help Japanese women search for husbands by proudly declaring they're on the hunt...

Tags: Concept, Japanese, Women

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Titanic-DNA Tourbillon Steampunk a la Grande

Tue, 12 May 2009 20:45:43 -0500

We love the thinking behind Romain Jerome's manufactured authenticity and its legend DNA blends, so it's not surprising that we also love the irreverence of the Tourbillon Steampunk A la Grande. It's an exceptional timepiece featuring intensely accentuated physical characteristics, distinctive bolts, an anchor-shaped off-centred oscillating weight, 6-sided screws, Roman numerals, characteristic paws, a tourbillon, the collection’s trademark rust, along with a number of springs and rivets…. the result is a fascinating blend of apparent anarchy and undeniably noble charm...

Tags: Romaine Jerome, Steampunk

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Golden-i Bluetooth headset with virtual PC display

Tue, 12 May 2009 01:04:29 -0500

Mobile phones and laptop computers have made traditional 9-to-5 workdays a thing of the past for many workers. That ability to work from any location, however, can be a double-edged sword. The flexibility to be freed from the office also means that work is increasingly encroaching on people’s recreation time, as they find they are never really off the clock. That situation looks set to worsen, or improve, depending on your perspective, with the introduction of the Golden-i from Kopin Corporation. The Golden-i is a Bluetooth headset that provides a 15-inch virtual display with a hands-free, natural-speech-recognition interface for wireless remote control over a range of devices including mobile phones, PCs, company networks and wireless systems...

Tags: Bluetooth, Computers, Concept, Mobile, Mobile Phone, Network, Remote Control, Screen, USB, Wifi, Wireless

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