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
Fibretronic has released a new series of controls. The FTXS series is a soft control keypad that is able to be integrated into textiles. The super soft keypad is targeted for mobile devices.This is designed to work directly with Fibretronics CONNECTED-wear modules for iPod, iPhone and MP3. These Fibretronic products are found in many smart textiles sold.
Posted in: Button/Switch, CONNECTEDwear, Components, DIY - Corner, Fibretronic, Mobile Phone Integration, Tech Clothing Industry, Textile Switch, Textiles, iPhone Integration, iPod Fashion, 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
Mediamatic Amsterdam hosted a workshop called “Designing Hybrid Wearables” last month. The team using the Lilypad Arduino, Leah Buchely DIY e-textile system, made a creative cat/cuddle bag.The bag created by Anouk Wipprecht, David Morgan (both Netherlands), Nick Lesley (New York) & Hans Gunter Lock (Estonia), is a substitute for the comforting feeling of a cat sitting on your lap. When you stroke the bag, it will simulate breathing, warm up, and make soothing sounds. All of these things can only be felt is the bag is held close or cuddled. There are even to two LED eyes on the bag.This bag has some serious character. Here comes a new category of interactive bags.
Posted in: Bags, DIY - Corner, e-Textiles
Fibretronic made a blazing start into the 2008 Wearable Electronic year with the introduction of the CONNECTED-wear program.
The uniqueness of this new system from Fibretronic is the separation of the textile component, the keypad that goes into clothing and fashion accessories, from the control electronics, the small box that is talking to the iPod, cellphone or audio player in your pocket or bag.
The consumer activates his/her garment or bag according the needs by purchasing an electronic module from the CONNECTED-wear product range which will be available from selected retailers and online.
Initially the CONNECTED-wear modules will be available for iPod, MP3 player and music phones.
The flexibility of selecting after the purchase of a garment or bag the product compatibility comes from the standardized system of the CONNECTED-wear ..read more
Posted in: Button/Switch, CONNECTEDwear, Components, DIY - Corner, Fibretronic, Textile Switch, iPhone Integration, iPod Integration
Fibretronic’s Fiddler joystick system known from the Levi’s Redwire Jeans enables you to upgrade your outfit to work with your iPod.
The joystick module comes together with the iPod interface electronics in a blister pack. It allows for easy attachment and removal of the iPod controller to any clothing.
The first company to implement this product and create a clothing line is ToBe Technology, a Swedish manufacturer of hip snow sportswear.
ToBe’s iPod enabled Jackets are designed for easy integration of Fibretronic’s iPod control module giving their customers the flexibility to interchange the control system between different garments in ToBe’s product range.
The module itself has on its base Velcro which allows the attachment on any type of garment or soft good like bags where there is a patch of Velcro and provisions to ..read more
Posted in: Button/Switch, Fibretronic, Textile Switch, ToBe Technology, iPod Fashion
Wu-Lee has created an awesome LED Hat.
The LED has uses a mesh that carries 1024 LEDs! That’s a lot of wiring and soldering. The construction notes are a very interesting and a inspirational read. The great thing about this concept is that anything can be displayed on the matrix of 16 (vertical) and 64 (horizontal around the hat) pixels. Images, icons, text, anything can be visualized in animated form to express yourself, light up your party or simple use your hat to advertise. Now that’s what I call working with the hat head.
The integration looks very neat and clean and the animation that can be seen in the demo video give a very powerful idea of the potential that is inside this Hat concept.
Wu-Lee’s construction notes might ..read more
Posted in: Accessories, DIY - Corner, Display, Hats, HowTo's, LED
Behold the ‘digg me’ Shirt, a very thorough Wearable Electronic Instructables project. The ‘digg me’ Shirt is a truly Wearable Electronic DIY project combining the usage and creativity of the popularity of a Social News website, e-textiles, clothing and electronic elements.You’ll find tips and tricks and will see how to create your own DIY ‘digg-me’ shirt over at the Instructables project. You’ll aslo find a concept for making your own e-textile switch.
The ‘digg-me’ shirt comes from Instructables member thydzik who has created an excellent instruction down to the smallest details on how everyone can/could create his/her own digg-me Shirt.
YouTube hosted videos will help aid you in making your own Digg Me shirt. The video below shows how the ‘digg-me’ Shirt works:
Wearing ..read more
Posted in: Button/Switch, DIY - Corner, Display, T-Shirt, Techno Fashion
Leah Buechley created in cooperation with Sparkfun the next generation of e-textile modules for the Wearable Electronic DIY enthusiasts: the LilyPad-Arduino set.
To introduce Leah Buechely might not be needed for our regular readers and everyone interested into Wearable Electronics just so much, Leah is a Ph.D. student in Computer Science at the University of Colorado and a member of the Craft Technology Group. Her research interests in electronic textiles, wearable computing and human computer interaction paved her way to create the now famous LED tank top.
Since then, Leah continuously developed further her tool kit for e-textiles which resulted in the latest and most sophisticated DIY kit for e-textiles I have ever seen before, the LilyPad.
The LilyPad is designed with large connecting pads, to create an interface between small electronic ..read more
Posted in: Button/Switch, Components, Textile Circuit, e-Textiles
