Do you own anything that really shows the world what a geek you are? Now, I mean geek in a cool way not in a thrown in a high school locker way. Besides, you are an adult, you can’t even fit in lockers anymore. So with that in mind, it’s about time you got serious about showing off your geek cred. Let me open your peepers to this Arduino-controlled LED watch.
This piece of nerd-chic tells time with a series of brightly glowing LEDs on an exposed PCB. If you didn’t know what either of those acronyms mean then this is not the watch for you. If you did, however, then you may want to track one of these down. The watch also tells perfect time, if you are worried about ..read more
Posted in: Concept Design, Do-It-Yourself Industry Leaders, LED, Watches
Wouldn’t it be great if there was a shirt(or something vaguely resembling a shirt) that monitored our heart rate at all times? Well, wait. There is! Researchers at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid have created an intelligent eT-shirt that purports to do just that.
Hey you hypochondriacs out there. It is intended for hospital use, to make it easier on doctors to monitor their patients. Also, it’s not just for your heart. The shirt is embedded with electrodes that monitor its wearer’s vitals, and a removable thermometer and accelerometer for the collection of temperature and positioning data.
This has already been tested in a hospital in Madrid and it passed with flying colors. No word on its bedside manner though. You never know with shirts. Sometimes they can be real sticks ..read more
Posted in: Concept Design, Shirt, Vitals Monitoring
An Atlanta designer has upped the ante on fan-made Daft Punk related merchandise. Harrison Krix has cobbled together a Daft Punk inspired helmet that is so cool, so amazing to look at it, that it may be better than anything the band can come up with themselves.
First of all, it’s Arduino-controlled and uses LED lights to get that flashing effect. You can use a computer or a smartphone to change the scrolling text to any thing you like. Do I sense a bad knock knock joke coming on? Maybe that’s just me. Anyways, you can watch how he built the thing via a video he posted on Youtube. You can also use that Youtube to him sad, pathetic messages begging to borrow it just for Halloween or your kid’s birthday ..read more
Posted in: Concept Design, DIY - Corner, Hats, LED
Now this is useful tech. Hyeona Yang and Joshua Noble have devised a raincoat, dubbed Raincatch, that catches rain water and turns it into clean drinking water on the fly. This could actually, you know, help people.
It catches the rainwater and charcoal filters it, thereby purifying it. Then you affix the end of the spigot/straw and you drink up. Elegant simplicity at its finest. This is perfect for polluted areas where drinking water may not always be the best life choice.
Of course, the two designers have stated this is just in the initial stages for now. Don’t go to Spencer’s Gifts looking for one or anything. Not yet anyways.
Posted in: Concept Design, Jacket, Water Hydration
If you build it, they will, uh, come. That’s the theory anyways. San Francisco company Crave is prepping a unique hybrid design that should get people, uh, squealing with delight. Why is that you ask? Because it’s both a USB drive and a vibrator.
The Duet, as it’s classily called, does what it says it does. It stores your vital information and it, well, has sex with you. I guess it could also be used as a massager, given it has four speed settings and five power levels. It also holds 8g of your precious digital valuables so you’ll never be at a loss to explain what it is should any coworkers give you an incredulous stare. “It’s a USB drive dammit!”
Now before you go rushing to your local sex store, ..read more
Posted in: Concept Design, Crave
Ah those crafty Buckeyes. Researchers at Ohio State have been conducting some scientific tomfoolery in the world of embeddable antennae. You knew I was going to say that, didn’t you?
The researchers are trying to input an omnidirectional antenna in your shirt antenna to boost radio reception. It works by using a computer controller the size of a deck of cards clipped to the wearers belt, The system senses body movement and activates the appropriate antenna to get the best signal. Of course, this depends on the user actually wanting a better signal. I prefer my signals paltry at best.
This is, again, just a concept design. It’s not like you can go into the Gap and get antenna-enhanced clothing. Sigh. One day.
Posted in: Concept Design, Textiles, Wearable Tech
Adidas. That company is always up to something. Up to bat now? A wearable, virtual coach that does all kinds of cool stuff. Really. Think of this thing as you own, private Pat Riley. You know, except without all of the expensive suits.
Designer Sebastiaan Pijnappel and Adidas has been cobbling this wearable coach concept for a while now. The general idea is that the device plays musical notes that correspond to certain movements. Strike just the right ones and you know you’ve gotten in the zone.
The device has only been tested with pitches for now. The results, however, have been positive. No word on when this concept would enter the realm of reality. Until then, we’ll have to settle for those boring flesh and blood coaches.
Posted in: Adidas, Concept Design
In the race to see how robotic human beings can become, enter researchers at Vanderbilt University. These clever scientists have created a bionic limb, so real, so lifelike, that it is likely to be a boon to those in need of prosthetics.
It’s the first prosthetic limb to use said motorized joints in conjunction, and the results are impressive to say the least. The device also makes it easier for users to advance on inclines, due to the motorization. It is just a concept for now but let’s hope it can make people more mobile in the near future.
From Vanderbilt:
The device uses the latest advances in computer, sensor, electric motor and battery technology to give it bionic capabilities: It is the first prosthetic with powered knee and ankle joints that operate ..read more
Posted in: Concept Design
Who doesn’t love temporary tattoos? They allow you to put stupid stuff on your skin and not have it last forever. This is perfect for those drunken nights when the thought of having “420 69″ on your left buttock just seems like the most hilarious idea of all time. Now, though, temp tats are also useful. Enter John Rogers and his Epidermal Electronic System.
The Epidermal Electronic Systen, or EES, consists of circuits which could contain electrodes capable of measuring brain, heart and muscle activity exactly like how an EEG does now. Only, you know, it will be on your skin with gives whole new meaning to the phrase “easy access.” This way you can wear the tattoo for elongated periods of time, thus giving doctors a better idea of what’s ..read more
Posted in: Concept Design, Tactile Feedback, Vitals Monitoring, Wearable Tech
