WearTec

Sometimes I’m amazed to find a wearable technology device that has been developed years ago, yet seems to be right up to date with current developments. The Compass Coat was developed by Stijn Ossevoort in 2002 as part of the “Wearable Dreams” research project for the Interaction Design Institute Ivrea.
From the research paper: “The coat contains 24 sections [the funny looking plant like shapes on the coat] that can light up individually, using EL wires […]. The section that points north lights up while its surrounding sections glow dimly. As soon as the person turns, the light will gradually move onto the new section that points north, presenting the direction in a very natural analogue form. In this way the coat provides a sense of direction as opposed to a perfectly sharp digital reading.”

[via we make money not art]