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
The field of study that creates bionic limbs has been making great strides lately. So much striding, in fact, that it can be hard to keep track of everything. Of course, that is why we are here. But for that rare occasion you’d rather watch one of those new-fangled moving pictures instead of reading there’s PBS. The channel has just released a very informative documentary on the state of the industry.
The docu, linked here, interviews many luminaries in the field, including Dean Kamen and a number of other inventors. It’s an illuminating 11 minutes and, come on, we both know you weren’t doing anything that great to begin with.
The full transcript can be found here if you don’t feel like watching.
Posted in: Do-It-Yourself Industry Leaders, Tactile Feedback
Take a silicon keyboard and a pair of jeans and you can also attempt this. Zach, the brave builder, took a laser cutter to make the key holes and then stitched in the keyboard. Since the keyboard had to be cut, only the left hand works. For a DIY im sure someone can figure out how to get the other side to work. It is cool to see people attempt to make wearable tech. Keep it coming!
Posted in: Button/Switch, Components, Concept Design, DIY - Corner, Do-It-Yourself Industry Leaders, Keyboard, Pants, Wearable Computing
Textronics, a leader in textile sensor technology, is now offering a DIY kit for people interested in developing heart rate monitoring textiles. This marks the first time that Textronics is offering and official kit for purchase.
The Developers Kit offer 12 textile sensors, a variety of knit tubes, wrist cuffs and chest straps. Additionally they include conductive thread and 2 transmitters with the kit. These transmitters are compatible with most analog heart rate monitors like Polar.
The kit which sells for $100.00 is a very thorough kit to help anyone start anyone get started in the vital monitoring garment game. This can open the door to many fitness and sporting tech garments. It is always great when an industry leader can offer these kits to the general public. Making it easier for ..read more
Posted in: Components, Conductive Yarn, DIY - Corner, Do-It-Yourself Industry Leaders, Intelligent Clothes, Safety, Sports, Tech Clothing Industry, Textile Circuit, Textile Switch, Textronics, Vitals Monitoring, Wearable Tech
QIO Systems is now offering textile touch pads for fashion fabricators. Using Elektex and SOFTswitch technology, and is completely fabric. That means that it can be washed and dry cleaned. Even though it is washable, it is rated at up to 100,000 keypresses.
Next to the fabric keypad QIO Systems offers a wide range of electronic modules with control functions for the iPod, Bluetooth cell phones, wearable radio, Push-to-talk solutions and complete solution for integrated heating and integrated lighting into garments and soft goods.
Posted in: Bluetooth, Button/Switch, Components, DIY - Corner, Do-It-Yourself Industry Leaders, ElekTex Smart Fabric, Mobile Phone Integration, QIO Systems, Super Smart Fabrics, Tech Clothing Industry, Textile Circuit, Textile Switch, Textiles, Two Way Radio, Waterproof, Wearable Computing, iPhone Integration, iPod Integration
A few days ago we wrote about the HandTalk glove designed by Carnegie Mellon students. We also thought that was an original concept. False. Turns out in 2001 the concept was created by Ryan Patterson.
Patterson imagined this concept while sitting in a restaurant and seen a def patron having a hard time conveying an order. Looking to make this happen for a science fair, he began his mission. A mere 7 months later his Sign Language Translator concept was complete.
What does this mean? Ryan’s Sign Language Translator was a Grand Award winner in the 2001 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, the first place winner in the individual category at the 2001 Siemens Westinghouse Science & Technology Competition, he received top ..read more
Posted in: Concept Design, Display, Do-It-Yourself Industry Leaders, Gloves, Super Smart Fabrics, Textile Circuit, Textile Switch, Textiles, Wearable Computing, e-Textiles
Talking about Do-It-Yourself in Wearable Electronics means talking about the work of Leah Buechley. She is the Master of e-textiles and created over the last few years a exiting range of ideas, designs and DIY instructions for e-textiles.
Leah introduced a construction kit for electronic textiles in spring 2006. A set of stitchable controllers, sensors and actuators that enable novices to build their own electronic textiles. The different elements are created by using her fabric PCB technique: microcontrollers, sensors and other devices that are soldered to fabric PCBs. The finished elements can be stitched together with conductive thread into custom Wearable Electronic clothing or other fashion accessories.
Have a look to the excellent guidelines and explanations Leah is giving on her site to build your first e-textile kit.
..read more
Posted in: DIY - Corner, Do-It-Yourself Industry Leaders, Textile Circuit, Textiles, e-Textiles
Do-It-Yourself for Wearable Electronic is a brand new Category for the site. We decided to introduce you to the DIY activities and possibilities initiated by other people and groups; and expand those activities with our own contributions.
DIY is a growing trend in the fashion world today. Many of us want to personalize the ’standard’ offer in the shops and quite a few of us go so far to create and wear our own creations.
In our recent reviews and outlooks, we took a look at the trends and activities of Wearable Electronic fashion for the coming year.
Wearable Electronics is still in its infancy, it will take time to find a wide range and variety of items to hit stores.
DIY for Wearable Electronics can help us to get what we want earlier. ..read more
Posted in: Craft Technology Group, Do-It-Yourself Industry Leaders
