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DIY sewable iPod remote takes just ten minutes, will absolutely warm your heart
Okay, so we fully anticipate that creating the downright adorable object you see above will take far longer than ten minutes if you a) don't have a stash of circuits and fabrics laying around and / or b) you've never done anything like this before, but for seasoned DIYers, this is about as easy as it gets. The "10-minute sewable iPod remote" can actually be any character or design you feel like making, as the crux of this project relies on the circuit chip that is actually fitted inside the dock connector. From there, you just connect a few strands of conductive fabric, attach your kitty cat (or dragon, as the case may be) and begin to enjoy your homegrown iPod remote. Hit the read link for the full how-to, but only if you're immune to cuteoverloaditus.
Ermenegildo Zegna's iSolarX jacket juices up gadgetry
While Ermenegildo Zegna made the plunge into high-end, electronic savvy outerwear last Fall, its newest piece ups the ante by allowing gadgetry that you keep on your person to be charged up whilst out and about -- sans batteries. The Solar JKT is based around Interactive Wear AG's iSolarX technology, and sports a number of solar modules around the neoprene collar that can pass energy through conducting textile leads for storage in a buffer battery or to charge a connected device directly. The jacket can even be switched from 5V to 6V in order to handle a more diverse group of gizmos, and integrated LEDs enable you to quickly view the state of the charge. Sadly, there's no mention of an expected pricetag for this uber-useful garb, but it will likely cater specifically to the affluent set when it hits the market as part of the 2008 Spring / Summer collection.
NC State researchers uncover muscle mimicking fibers
While some researchers over in Raleigh are having fun tinkering with PlayStation 3 farms and dodging the RIAA, NC State's Drs. Tushar Ghosh and John Muth are occupied building prototypes with fibers they say "resemble human muscle and can exhibit muscle-like capabilities when electrical currents are applied." The duo sees the development as paving the way for "advancements and potential applications in robotics, smart textiles, prosthetics, and biomedicines," as they have reportedly found that polyurethane and silicone tube structures shaped like human muscle strands can be manipulated with electricity. It was noted, however, that the current models are using strands "roughly the size of a pencil lead," but the next step is to scale down the fibers and integrate them into a robotic Mr. and Mrs. Wuf.
CuteCircuit's "Kiss Me!" interactive wedding attire
The creative minds over at CuteCircuit have developed yet another wearable, but this interactive wedding attire gives the bride and groom a little something extra to look forward to. The "Kiss Me!" gown and suit was fabricated specifically for a Swedish couple from Indian silks of various colors, and wired up with "smart textile" technology (as seen in the Secret Message Glove) that transmits pre-written messages when the articles make contact. Although the scene was far from traditional, it mattered not to the Swedish lovebirds, and when the couple kissed after their endearing professions, the textiles sent secret messages to each of them that could only be discovered on the tiny displays hidden in not-so-public locations. To maintain whatever amount of practicality these threads should have after the ceremony, the bride's train is removable for converting into a skirt, and the groom's jacket becomes a somewhat threatening ninja outfit. The "Kiss Me!" attire may not fit into everyone's ideal wedding, but we'll admit this is definitely more acceptable than having Kip Dynamite belt out "I love technology" to celebrate a union.
CuteCircuit's Secret Message Glove
Those peeps at CuteCircuit, they of the SMS-sensing shirtsleeves, have come up with another wearable device of questionable practicality but definite coolness in the form of the Secret Message Glove. As its name suggests, the glove will let you pass messages secretly to another gloved individual with just a quick handshake, although we think they'll have to tone down the Michael Jackson-style design for more covert use. The glove was made as part of a workshop on smart textiles and physical computing but, sadly, plans for a DIY version don't seem to be available. [Via MAKE: Blog]
