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Switched On: A Looxcie into lifecasting's future
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. Remember those early wireless headsets, the ones that made people look like they had been assimilated by The Borg? Few would seek to return to those days for the benefit of bridging a handset and one's ears. But what if one could also bridge a handset and one's eyes? That's essentially the promise of Looxcie, a Bluetoooth headset that integrates a video camera to enable passive video capture. Looxcie's creators note that using the device requires less encumbrance than even a Flip camcorder. Still, there's no getting around it -- the Looxcie is no spy gadget. Accepting the state of the technology for what it is, the designers chose to embrace its size rather than try to minimize it. The protuberance that houses the boom mike and lens of the product swells toward an end that includes a red recording light. The extension in a glossy white, perhaps an homage to massive telephoto zoom lenses like those from Canon.
Universal Display ships eight wrist-worn OLED displays to military, too late to help Noble Team
We had a little fun with Universal Display Corporation's flexible OLED display at CES a few years back, ruggedized and militarized and destined for Army wrists of the future. Little did we know that future would be so close. The company has just confirmed that it has delivered eight of the 4.3-inch, 320 x 240 screens to the US Army for "military evaluation and testing" and, while it doesn't sound like there's a specific purpose in mind at the moment, we're pretty sure they'll come up with something to do with them. We know we sure would. Update: We got a new picture of the current version above, and a second picture below of it being tortured on the rack.
Entelligence: Putting a spotlight on the invisible
Entelligence is a column by technology strategist and author Michael Gartenberg, a man whose desire for a delicious cup of coffee and a quality New York bagel is dwarfed only by his passion for tech. In these articles, he'll explore where our industry is and where it's going -- on both micro and macro levels -- with the unique wit and insight only he can provide. When Apple refreshed the latest version of the iPod nano, the combination of the square form factor, touch display, clip and cool clock app made me think it would make a great watch. I was not alone. I've already seen a number of vendors scrambling to create straps and wrist cases for the nano. While Apple stopped well short of calling it a watch replacement, there's no doubt Cupertino will be looking carefully to see if there's an iWatch in your future. From Microsoft's Smart Personal Object Technology devices to watches that ran Palm OS, vendors have tried and failed to push high-tech watches every few years. I personally think the watch space and the larger invisible space hasn't been exploited properly beyond the core feature of telling time. Here's why.
Brother's AirScouter floats a 16-inch display onto your eye biscuit (video)
First announced in July, Brother's updated AirScouter wearable display is finally getting its first live demonstration at Brother World in Japan. The prototype Retinal Imaging Display (RID) projects safe, fast-moving light directly onto your retina that appears to the viewer as a 16-inch display floating transparently at a distance of about 3 feet. The tech used by Brother was harvested from its own optical system technologies found in laser and inkjet printers. Brother plans to launch the AirScouter for industrial uses in Japan where the glasses could overlay operating manuals onto machinery, for example. Later, Brother plans to adopt its RID tech into consumer products worldwide making for a more immersive (and practical) augmented reality experience.
iPhone-controlled LED suit is actually not going to Burning Man
Usually when we see apparel of this caliber completed around this time of year we can be sure it's headed to the Nevada desert, but no -- this exhilarating piece of wearable rave architecture is headed to DragonCon in Atlanta. Either way, dang! Video of the insanely-customizable blinkage after the break.
BeagleBoard finds new purpose in DIY wearable computer
We've already seen the small and flexible BeagleBoard used for a couple of different DIY projects, but few quite as impressive as this wearable computer built by Martin Magnusson. In addition to complementing any outfit, this rig runs Angstrom Linux, uses a modified pair of Myvu Crystal video glasses (and some stylish shades) for a display, and simply relies on a Bluetooth keyboard for input and a tethered iPhone for internet connectivity. Of course, if the shoulder strap isn't your thing, Martin has also demonstrated that the rig can discreetly fit in a standard CD case -- check it out after the break, and hit up the source link below for a look at the complete build process.
Sony Walkman W252 gets a Limited Edition MGS makeover
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker is coming out for the PSP soon, and in classic Sony style, we're being treated to a custom-painted W252 Walkman to celebrate the event. This wearable MP3 player can fit 2GB of your favorite stealth action theme music, and gets the party started with six preloaded tunes from the Peace Walker soundtrack. Beyond that, you're getting that gorgeous camo outfit and the same water-resistant durability as the less Limited W250 models. Full PR and one more pic after the break.
With 'Ping' clothing, status updates literally tap you on the shoulder
Arduino-powered clothing is nothing new; we've seen CO2-detecting dresses, compass belts and inbox-checking T-shirts all within the last six months. But this Ping social networking garment concept is not quite the same thing. Where those were DIY projects with a single-function, Ping is the brainchild of a professional UI designer... and the fabric itself is a social network UI that registers your movements as attempts to communicate. Woven with flexible sensors and conductive threads connected to an Arduino Lilypad and Xbee, clothing made from the fabric can detect when you lift a hood or tie a ribbon and wirelessly send Facebook status updates accordingly -- or tap you on the shoulder in a number of different rhythms so you know not only when, but who might be trying to get in touch. Designer Jennifer Darmour imagines a future in which clothing offers full-body 3D gesture recognition and senses our environment. When we can reliably use it to control our computers, we hope she'll get in touch.
T-shirt modded to let you know when you have new emails, won't tell you why your friends are avoiding you
You probably don't have enough reminders that you're always a little behind, right? Well Chris and his wife Madeline decided to make one more for themselves: a t-shirt that lights up when you have new emails, and also tells you the number in your inbox. Using an Arduino Lilypad microcontroller, a few LEDs, conductive thread, and a Bluetooth dongle to communicate with an Android phone nearby (which has access to the inbox), Chris took a custom printed shirt and rigged up this badboy. It's actually pretty good looking as far as these things go, but we still don't know if we need this in our already alert-ridden lives. Regardless, the video's after the break if you're thinking about cobbling together your own. [Thanks, Juergen ]
Scientists to bring piezoelectrics and rubber together to form flexible, wearable energy harvester
Piezoelectrics are nothing new -- though most applications, they've proven to be far more theoretically useful than practical. Still, the technology is starting to move in a direction that could prove more applicable to everyday situations -- and a new piezo material recently developed could really get the ball moving. Called PZT, it's made of nano-sized fibers of lead zirconate titanate, which are applied to thin (and we mean thin) ribbons of flexible silicone rubber. The material is super efficient, and has the ability to convert mechanical energy into electricity at a rate of about 80 percent, and, because it's made of flexible rubber, it would be well-suited to converting electricity from the energy of body movements, meaning all sorts of wearable fun may be imminent. There's no word on any practical application of this yet -- so we'll just have to keep our eyes peeled for you.
Zeal Optics bringing GPS, sensor-laden Transcend ski goggles to market
Remember those mind-melting Recon Instruments goggles that we caught wind of late last year? Admit it -- you never, ever expected those things to actually make it to market. Despite your pessimism, it seems as if those very specs are indeed making a beeline to the consumer realm, with Zeal Optics jumping in, working a bit of magic and relabeling 'em Transcend. Deemed the planet's first GPS and sensor-laden ski goggles, these things are purportedly capable of logging speed, altitude, temperature and time details, and the side-mounted toggle switches will enable you to view said data in real time (or not, if you're paying attention to the 50 foot drop ahead of you). Peek the read link for further details on the $350+ wearables (demoed after the break), and get ready to hit the slopes with a whole new mindset this October. [Thanks, Christopher]
Rugged, waterproof Predator VX360 wearable camcorder destined for X Games
Had your daily dose of Sal Masekela? No? Shame on you! Though, we have to say, if this here wearable camcorder takes off, you could very well hear that very fellow doing color commentary over some pretty sick footage. The Predator VX360 is a rugged, waterproof wearable video camera that's engineered to withstand abuse from the elements while popping 1080 kickflips on the halfpipe, and unlike many head-worn alternatives, this one has its recording module (complete with a built-in LCD) strapped to an armband. The "eyeball camera" is still meant to cling tightly to your dome, but details are scant when it comes to resolution and the like. It's available now for daredevils in the UK, though the £549.99 ($892) sticker is apt to keep most of 'em at bay.[Via I4U News]
Wearable iRes uCorder keeps the voyeur working hard
Mind you, this ain't the first wearable camcorder we've come across, but it's definitely amongst the first that isn't meant to be seen by anyone. iRes Technologies isn't going so far as to call this a peeping Tom's dream, but the uCorder definitely fits the bill. Measuring in at just 3.5-inches high, 1-inch wide and 0.5-inches thick, the IRDC150 (1GB of built-in memory) and IRDC250 (2GB) are both designed to sit slyly within the casual shirt pocket, sleeve or fifth pocket™. Amazingly, the camera can shoot VGA quality clips as well as capture audio in WAV, with the big fellow capable of storing up to seven hours of Erin Andrews, er, undercover drug bust footage. Get your peep on for $80 (1GB) or $100 (2GB).[Via Wired]
Venus wearable monitor could offer alternative to needles
It looks like folks wary of needles now have yet another piece of technology to look forward to, with this so-called Venus device promising to measure tissue oxygen and pH levels without the need to draw any blood at all. To do that, the system makes use of a relatively small sensor that's placed directly on the skin, which uses near infrared light to measure to measure the blood and analyze both the tissue oxygen and pH, as well as the the metabolic rate. As a bonus, the lack of needles also reduces the the risk of infection, and it's relatively portable nature makes it ideal for use outside of strictly medical situations, such as monitoring athletes -- or astronauts, as it was originally developed for. As you might expect, however, the device is still just in prototype form, and there doesn't appear to be any indication as to when it might move beyond the lab.
Exmovere's wearable Chariot: for the mild-mannered cyborg
What does it take to make robotic exoskeletons look like a quaint relic of the past? This -- a new wearable transportation device concept that Exmovere Holdings has dubbed the Chariot. Apparently, the device is specifically intended to help amputees and people that have difficulty standing, with a range of sensors used to let the wearer control the device at speeds up to 12 miles per hour with a minimum amount of physical effort. Better still, Exmovere looks to have even more ambitious plans for production versions of the device, including on-board vital sign sensors, built-in wireless and cellular connectivity and, yes, even specialized versions for military and law enforcement customers. Head on past the break for more evidence of the future.Update: As commenter Videoranger Commander has noted, the device in the picture is almost certainly a fake -- it's actually the bottom of a Showbots uniform. Lame. What's interesting is that Exmovere put out a full press release, so we're guessing the company was just hoping no one would catch this little lie while they work on a real product -- if one actually exists.
iPosture annoys you when you slouch, does so because it loves you
Mama always said you'd regret slouching one day, and while you've still got a few decades left before ultimately determining whether the sage-like advice was right or wrong, why take chances? The iPosture does the same thing as wearable posture reminders that we've seen in the past, but this one does so in a much more discrete fashion. The diminutive nano-sensor detects when your angle deviates just three degrees from the optimal position for greater than a minute, after which it emits a warning to straighten you out. Users insistent on keeping it crooked can turn the device off by powering it down, removing it or flinging it furiously into a wall. Life's next big nuisance will be shipping soon for $99.95.[Thanks, Eric]
No compromise with working, full-size NES belt buckle
Your eyes, they do not deceive you. What you're witnessing in the above video is the antithesis of the subtle but very drool-worthy NES-in-a-blank mods we've been reporting on lately. It is, quite simply, a working NES on a belt.Watch! as it's worn into a home electronics store and ... connected to a TV. Marvel! as its model plays Super Mario Bros. using the connected controller (but where's the power supply, and do we even want to know?). Visit! the site where you can actually buy one of your very own – for the low, low price of $300 – and be the envy of ... no one.[Via Engadget]
Artificial kidney enables "dialysis-on-the-go"
Not like we haven't heard of at-home dialysis before, but a pair of researchers from UCLA and the Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System concocted a design which would make the process even more portable. The AWAK (automated, wearable artificial kidney) would "avoid the complications patients often suffer with traditional dialysis" by being bloodless in nature; additionally, it would theoretically "reduce or even eliminate protein loss." Fittingly, UCLA-VA has already inked an agreement with Singapore-based AWAK Technologies in order to develop a commercial version, but there's no mention of how soon the creators expect said device to be widely available.[Via Physorg]
NTT DoCoMo working on crazy wearable phone tech, as usual
Much to the surprise of absolutely no one, there's a lab deep within NTT DoCoMo's hallowed halls where people -- very, very smart people -- are controlling music players with their eyes. This is the Japanese carrier's Frontier Technology Research Group, where people like Dr. Masaaki Fukumoto are perfecting the use of electrical signals generated by eye movements to change volume, skip tracks, and direct the attention of their cameraphones to specific objects to capture QR codes, all in an effort to eventually come up with a phone that requires virtually no finger fiddling whatsoever. Lazy, yes -- but a potential boon for the disabled, and something Fukumoto believes could be commercialized within a few years once his team gets the kinks worked out (translation: we'll see it outside Japan in about 20-odd years). Oh, and don't worry -- a part of that whole "commercialization" business involves turning that headgear into something just a little sexier.
Square Band: the solar-powered wearable synthesizer
Admit it: having a synthesizer in your pocket just isn't enough. No, you need one on your person in order to truly feel whole. If we just rang your bell, you should take a long, insightful look at the Square Band. The latest revision of the wearable synthesizer includes a volume control and a couple of flexible solar panels, the latter of which were added partly for aesthetics. Apparently wearers can simply trigger buttons tucked under their wrist with their fingertips, upon which a superabundance of cacophonic sounds will emerge and completely freak out any nearby bystanders. You have to have one now, don't you?[Via MAKE]
