S.A.D - Heat sensitive T-shirt

S.A.D stands for ‘Seasonal Affective Disorder’ or also known as winter depression, is a mood disorder whose sufferers experience normal mental health throughout most of the year, but experience depressive symptoms in the winter when it is darker and less sunshine.

I think I am not suffering from SAD but I do like to be as much and long as possible in summer like conditions.

To help a friend who does suffer under SAD, graphic designer Keith Hancox designed the S.A.D T-shirt 01 for him, where the sun image is over printed with black heat sensitive ink which turns transparent at 32ºc. So as soon as the temperature raises to this level the sun will shine for his friend, cheering up his mood and hopefully minimize the SAD symptoms.

The S.A.D T-shirt is not exactly related to wearable electronic but I like the idea heat sensitive ink is used and imagine what cool effects could be made using conductive textiles underneath that warm up when supplied with electrical power. The heating up could be controlled via sensor input for example of heart rate to show ’sensible’ design effects. Got it?

[via: today and tomorrow]

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Rucyl Mills Elektro-07 wearable MIDI Controller

NYC based electronic musician and artist Rucyl Mills fused an M-Audio USB MIDI controller and a shoulder bag into the wearable Elektro-07 music controller.

A very challenging starting point I would say but Rucyl is no newcomer to interactive designs as her larger portfolio indicates.

The over-the-shoulder bag contains a MIDI controller complete with pads, knobs and faders. Convenient to reach all controls and allowing to move freely on the stage opens a new artistic dimension on stage.

Rucyl’s description of her wearable sound controller bag:

I built the elektro-07 so I could control the sonic and visual parameters of my live performances without having to look deep into the eye of my laptop, hunched over in computer music stance.

I’m still learning how to play it.. Software wise, it runs a maxMSP/Jitter patch smoothly, connected to my laptop by a long usb cable. Major thanks to Luke DuBois.

Originally it was named the Chakakhantroller after Chaka Khan… but you wouldn’t believe how many people don’t get the reference.. so I changed it to Elektro-07 after my newly launched label, Elektrocardio. Next version will be wireless, and yes… it’s made of black leather and snakeskin.

It’s a sexy looking way to replace an old-fashion computer usually used for such performances into a fashionable, in every aspect interactive shoulder bag.

Wearable technologies and performing art might just have started a new artistic dimension.

[via: Makezine]

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Italian sportswear brand Bailo reinvents interactive fashion

Italian outdoor specialists Bailo, a well established brand for high quality mountaineering and rescue apparel is adding state of the art running clothing by introducing the BTR Rocket jacket for men and women.

Combining high performance features with a Italian fashion flair and fit, the Bailo Trail Running (BTR) Rocket jacket will be the most advanced interactive jacket we have seen so far.

The light weight soft shell jacket is using QIO System’s advanced textile interface allowing a seamless, invisible integration of control elements without compromising the softness and lightness of the jacket.

The Bailo Rocket comes standard with an iPod controller but as it supports the QIO eSystem solution, customers will be able to order it with any of QIO System’s control electronics like Bluetooth module, AM/FM radio or Walkie-Talkie system.

Alternatively, anyone who buys the Rocket jacket can add later any of those functions as needed.

Other high end features of the Rocket jacket is the use of GORE-TEX® PACLITE® a extremely breathable and flexible fabric, reflective details for increased visibility in low light conditions and a transparent plastic insert on the cuff allowing the read a watch. These features radiate the sophistication and love for details Italian fashion design is famous for.

The Rocket jacket will be available in Spring 2009 and comes in the colors Grey, Black, Cobalt Blue and Red. Stay tuned and come back for more updates and price information.

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Backpack with GPS tracker and electronic ears

Hidden inside this ordinary students Backpack is a real-time GPS tracking unit with audio capability. You can ‘call’ into the tracking device inside the backpack and listen to what is being discussed around the unit!

This sounds very much like James Bond gear but it is reality. For the fabulous price of $1,200.- it’s not only the highest price I have seen for a backpack it’s also the most sneakiest on the block.

Marketed as ‘the ideal solution for children and/or teens who run the possibility of being kidnapped or venturing into “bad” neighborhoods’, the GPS Backpack with audio capabilities allows to sneak up on your kids via the hidden real-time GPS tracker via a password-protected website.

Besides keeping a (very) close ear on your kids, Grandchildren & Teenagers it is supposed to be also helpful in locating people suffering from Alzheimer’s or keep your ears on employees like sales and service staff in the field to check if they are sneaking off for a while.

As much as I love when technology is merged into bags, this is a bit too much of a ‘Big Brother’ feature but yet again, for certain professions like MI6 or CIA, wearable technologies might offer new possibilities.

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Enrich your DIY wearable electronic toolbox with a learning sensor

Remember the first time I posted about a company called Aniomagic introducing the cute wearable electronic modules for easy interactive fashion prototyping?

Since then, Aniomagic kept on expanding their wearable electronic module portfolio with modules like the Mimeolight. The newest addition is a range of learning sensors, the smartest and simplest wearable electronic module on the market.

The ‘learning sensors’ are targeted towards interactive fashion designer and DIY enthusiasts who do not want to dig too deep into the complex task of learning software and IC programming but rather spend their creativity on designing smart clothing.

You can just sew them up, press a switch to calibrate them, and you have an interactive fashion project that can respond to changes in light, temperature, acceleration, pressure, sound, etc.

No need to instal software, connecting extra hardware, or figuring out a new programming system.

The sensors have three states: M turns on when the level is ‘normal’, H turns on when the level rises above what you set and L turns on when the level falls below what you set.

To calibrate the sensor at neutral or ‘normal’ stage is as easy as pressing a ‘calibrate’ button. For example, if you calibrate the temperature sensor at room temperature, it will turn on the appropriate output if temperatures rise or fall by 10°F.

Each learning sensor comes with seven sewable holes for sewing it onto textiles with conductive thread.

Currently there are three learning sensors availabel: one is light-sensitive, another is temperature-sensitive, and the third allows you to hook up your own sensor.

The cost of each sensor is $10.- but if you order more it becomes cheaper. Check out Aniomagic’s online store for the learning sensor and other smart modules to complete your next interactive fashion project.

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Love Meter T-Shirt

The Love Meter T-Shirt is another variant of the Dynamic Love shirt we have posted abut a while ago.

The love indication on both shirts is similar: as you move closer to another person wearing also a Love Meter T-Shirt, the love meter grows stronger. As you move away, the love meter fades, visualizing what happens with our love. I am just kidding.

You can now show the whole world your love with the Love Meter T-Shirt. It’s a cute design feature out of the interactive fashion department, a feature your girl/boy friend will appreciate.

The love-shirt is made of 100% cotton, can be hand washed after the battery pack is unplugged and requires 4 regular AAA Batteries to show your love.

The price of the love-t-shirt is £23.99 (around $43.5) and can be ordered online (shipping is worldwide) at this place.

In case you want to hide your love temporally, there is an off switch on the t-shirt but I am not sure if love can be turned on/off with the flick of a switch …. you decide.

[GearLive via StyleGuru]

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EmoGlove - sensor glove keeps track of your online emotion

To record the frustration a computer user is undergoing during the interaction with software a team at the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research (IGD) developed a sensor glove that tracks the movement of a computer mouse and keyboard but is also able to register physiological parameters such us heart rate, skin resistance and body temperature. All those parameters enable the quantification of the emotional states a wearer of the EmoGlove goes through.

Developed primarily to support software development by early testing with test persons capturing the emotion. Because physiological parameters are difficult to consciously control, they allow direct access to a person’s emotions.

The development is in an early stage and not all the uncertainties have been ironed out of the system. Stress and annoyance are detected 80 per cent of the time, but boredom and other less powerful emotions are only detected 60 per cent of the time.

Imagine the use a EmoGlove could have not only for software development: using the data to interact on a emotional level with computer games would be for me at the top of my wish list.

[source: Heise via CrunchGear]

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Interactive fashion - summer sale

We compiled a list of cool interactive fashion items that are on sale online. Maybe there is something for you to grab for the last few weeks of summer ahead of us.

Music and Sons offers a 30% discount of most of their fabulous looking MP3 Music T-Shirts. Made with the greatest care for the environment by using organic cotton and Bamboo fibers as well as adopting ‘Fair Wear’ principles to ensure slave labor and other unethical employment is excluded from the manufacturing process of all garments makes these T-Shirts a trendsetter in eco clothing as well as in our interactive fashion lineup.

Music and Sons MP3 T-Shirts make the cable management for your mobile device as easy as wearing a T-Shirt.

How about some workout in style?  The Numetrex Heart Rate Monitor Sports Bra goes for just $45.95 and the Men’s Cardio Shirt for $58.99

Having a good workout outdoors before the winter season starts is a good idea.

With the Numtrex line of textile sensor equipped heart rate sport apparel you can get in shape in the most comfortable and good looking way.

Want to be power grid independent? Have a look at the many Solar power bags on the market. Eclipse Solar Gear has their good looking Fusion TM Canvas Messenger Bag at a reduced price off $53.99, saving you almost 25%. The messenger bag has pockets for your cell phone and audio player as well as a large cavity for a laptop computer. Getting a free charge every other day is a nice thing, saves a bit off carbon and some money in your pocket.

These are just a few items out of the growing range of interactive apparel and bags. Getting a bit of savings once in a while is always welcome and we help you in searching around to save you also some valuable time and spare you from googling and running around for a bargain.

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DIY - Light recycling Backpack

An interesting DIY project from Instructables user ‘sykoze‘ shows how to make a backpack which catches sunlight during the day via solar panels and gives back the light in form of LEDs during night.

The idea is not new but the way ’sykoze’ has designed his Solar LED Bike Bag has some very useful features.

For once he integrates turn signaling similar to Leah Buechley’s turn signal jacket. Another light option is a spot light which can become very handy in some situations e.g. reading a map. The third light option is a continuous light for visibility improvement.

Sykoze’s motivation for creating the Solar LED Bike Bag is interesting as well: He worked the night shift at a bakery a few towns away and was forced to use his bike because the buses didn’t run this route overnight.

His road experience was that he continually was forced to the side of the road by inconsiderate drivers speeding by and it probably wasn’t easy to see him given the general lack of street lighting in the area.

To solve all this issues once and forever, the idea of a Solar LED Bike Bag was born. Check out the video below and see all the light functions of the Solar LED Bike Bag:

The instructions are very detailed and fairly simple to follow but you need to have a bit DIY experience to put it together. Have a look for yourself and see if this is a project/product you have good use for it.

For my part I am most impressed by the user insight, the motivator to come up with the Solar LED Bike Bag which captures (sun)light during the day and recycles it during the night.

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Targus Sonic Corporate Backpack with NXT stereo speaker

Targus® Inc., maker of top-selling laptop computer cases and accessories, added a boom-bag for the corporate folks looking for a unique way to spice up the often ‘grey’ business world.

The Sonic Corporate Backpack is an all-in-one kit optimized for audio presentations. The sound comes from a NXT stereo speaker zipped to the front and produces loud, clear audio from most music sources, including notebooks.

When audio is needed for a presentation, the speaker can be detached to reveal a foldable stand, a smart idea as the backpack does not have to stay in front of your presentation. 3x AA batteries give playback time for hours.

While on the road to the next meeting you can turn up the tunes to energize or relax – just watch out if the people around you share your musical taste. While on a business trip, the Sonic Corporate Backpack let’s you listen in the hotel room to your favorite tunes form any MP3 or notebook without the need for earphones.

Made from a lightweight and durable nylon with scratch-resistant lining, the backpack has an internal notebook holder, pocket for MP3 players, and enough space for all other office essentials.

All in all, bags with integrated speaker like the Sonic Corporate Backpack do offer great value when it comes to the need for a quickly set up, simple but still very reasonable sounding audio system in the corporate as well in the leisure world.

The Sonic Corporate Backpack is available from authorized Targus retailers across Europe for a suggested retail price of € 99,90 ($ 147.20)

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