WearTec

Apple announced that the new iPod shuffle will be available in stores on Friday, November 3. The new iPod shuffle is about half the size of the original iPod shuffle and has been labeled “the most wearable iPod ever”.

The iPod shuffle has storage capacity of 1GB (up to 240 songs, has a battery life of up to 12 hours and will set you back $79.

As you can see from the images, this newest iPod is much smaller than the old iPod shuffle and tiny compared to the standard iPod and the iPod nano.
Like the old iPod shuffle, the new one does not come with a screen though. It will be interesting to see how it will stand up against similar sized competitors. In this MP3 player segment, there are lots of (cheaper) alternatives, but frankly I have had too many negative experiences with no name MP3 players (ease of use and user interface being the biggest problem). So if you are in the market for a relatively inexpensive MP3 player with limited storage capacity, I would recommend you to have a look at the new iPod shuffle and compare it to the cheaper alternatives.

Comments(0)

This is just a quick note to let you know that MediaMatic will run a wearable workshop in Amsterdam from November 10th to November 12th.
For 125 Euros you will use the Arduino board to create your own piece of wearable technology.

Comments(0)

Some modern cars no feature rain sensors, that automatically activate the windscreen wipers when the windscreen gets wet. Similar technology has new been used by Elise Co, to create the prototype of a rain coat equipped with wearable technology.
Co’s rain coat is equipped with water sensors that, when exposed to water (ie rain) cause a number of electroluminescent panels to light up and flicker, simulating falling rain drops.

Personally I think this is an interesting idea that needs to be modified to have some commercial potential. After all, who needs a rain coat that simulates rain when you’re already getting drenched?
Use the rain sensors to light up areas at the back and front of the coat to increase visibility in poor weather conditions (and safe the rain coat wearer from being run over by a car or two), and you have found yourself a potential market.

[source: Discovery Channel]

Comments(0)

G-Tech is releasing an Ipod enabled bag. The bag uses the same textile buttons as the ones that can be found on MP3 or Ipod compatible jackets to operate your audio device remotely, ie without having to pull it out of the bag. The bag is also equipped with an external speaker, so that you can share you music with everyone around you.
Nothing like a bike courier racing through a red light with Highway to Hell blaring from his bag…

[via gizmag]

Comments(0)

Korean Times has a story on a Bio Shirt that is supposed to monitor that vital signs of athletes.

I previously reported on the Shirt that records an ECG, and Adidas integrating a heart rate monitor into clothing. Other examples were a shirt that remotely monitors vital signs (interestingly from Korea as well), using Sensatex technology.

The Bio Shirt will monitor heart rate, body temperature and running speed. All data will be transferred to a bluetooth enabled wrist watch that will warn the wearer when the data hits critical levels.

[via Medgadget]

Comments(0)

Not a fan of the VR glasses or headsets that are currently available?
Toshiba is working on a VR helmet prototype, according to The Canadian Press, that will allow almost 360 degree vision.

Comments(0)

Stress fractures are hairline fractures in the bone that develop from previoulsy formed microcracks. They can occur when overtraining and/or conducting hard physical activity for long periods of time.
Whilst our bones can regenerate themselves, it is important to actually allow the bone to heal and to stop any strenous physical activity before stress fractures occur.

A research project at the Universities of Purdue and Toledo has now created a wearable prototype that can warn its wearer when a stress fracture is imminent so that the person can stop their activity before the fracture occurs. The researchers are using sensors that measure seismic waves, similar to the ones created by earthquakes. Once ready for production these sensors could be integrated into clothes or shoes and provide data to a PDA or other device which would sound the fracture alert.

Comments(1)

I have to attend a lot of meetings so I appreciate people being on time and value punctuality - something that is sometimes regarded as an optional extra here in Australia, but maybe that’s just my German roots coming through again.
Anyway, I am tempted to give some of the notorious “never on time” colleagues the Time T-shirt as a gift, and a friendly hint that I would like them to look at their chest more often. Why their chest you ask? The Time T-shirt features an illuminated panel at the front of the shirt that displays the time. Also, the clock is equipped with a stop watch, very handy for timing how long one is allowed to speak in a presentation, or the duration of meetings in general. Very useful indeed.

Comments(0)

Ever wanted to be as quick and strong (and good looking) as the 6 Million Dollar Man? Well, there will be no quick fix for the good looks, as the following article deals with really unattractive external equipment, but as for the strength and speed, there may be hope.
Gizmag reports that the “US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency” will spend $50 million dollars on a project to develop exoskeletons.

“The scope of the program includes the development of actively controlled exoskeletons that not only increase strength and speed, but enable larger weapons to be carried, provide a higher level of protection from enemy fire or chemical attack, allow wearers to stay active longer and carry more food, ammunition and field supplies. Exoskeletons may eventually even be programmed to bring injured soldiers back to base by themselves.”

One of the issues to tackle will be the power supply, with hydrocarbon fuels and pneumatic systems being one of the possible options.

Comments(0)

If you have been reading my blog for a while you probably know that I’m German, Bavarian actually (yes there is a big difference between a German and a Bavarian .
Anyway, I’m usually not a big fan of so called Bavarian traditions or what the tourism industry tries to sell the tourists as “zee real Bayer”.
When I saw Interactive Wear’s latest creation, however, I just had to mention it: the Lodenfrey limited edition Lederhosn. While we’ve had several posts on clothing that integrates controls for cell phones and MP3 players, this would be the first garment to show such functionality made from leather.
The Lederhosn, originally a traditional Bavarian pair of pants, has been combined with wearable technology elements to allow to remote control your MP3 player (using the buttons as shown in the photo). In addition the Lederhosn is equipped with wireless Bluetooth technology.

Comments(0)