Generating power through your wrist

"Fujitsu recently unveiled a high-tech bracelet generator that runs on both solar energy and heat from the wearer. The device contains no electrical wiring nor battery replacements, and it can be completely powered by body heat and the sun’s rays. Fujitsu plans to expand upon this prototype, and hopes to produce products utilizing the technology by 2015. Fujitsu has stated that energy harvesting gadgets are 'gaining interest as a future next-generation energy source'. The company went on to say that 'energy harvesting is the process for collecting energy from the surrounding environment. Conventionally, electricity is supplied by either a power plant or a battery, requiring electrical wiring and replacement batteries. In recent years, the idea of using ambient energy in the forms of light, vibration, heat, radio waves, etc. has become increasingly attractive, and a number of methods to produce electricity from these different kinds of energy sources have been developed.'"

Continue reading on Inhabitat.

Clothing with integrated displays

Austrian designer Wolfgang Langeder just sent in a project he's currently working on. Langeder and the Fraunhofer IZM / Stretchable Circuits in Berlin, have joined forces since january 2010 to develop clothing with integrated displays. The first of the series of 'the utope projects' is an intelligent business suit titled Cybernomade includes a display that interacts with a smart phone put within a pocket on the inside of the jacket and indicates a call or sms on its surface. "The main objective of this cooperation is to create a smart urban wear product line for men. 'the utope project' conceives itself as a laboratory for fashion, in which intelligent design merges with our time ́s most innovative technologies in order to create something thoroughly new and future oriented for clothing and fashion." Continue reading on the project site.

Wallets help you manage your money

[gallery] Researchers at MIT's media lab are exploring ways in which technology can be embedded into our wallets to help us manage our spending habits.

"The widespread adoption of credit and debit cards means, for many people, the cashless society is already a reality. However, this means the simple system of checking how much cash you’ve got in your wallet before making a purchase is no longer an accurate reflection of your finances, making it all too easy to succumb to temptation and overextend yourself financially. The Proverbial Wallet project at MIT is looking at “un-abstracting virtual assets” with wallets that provide tactile feedback that reflects a person’s current financial state."

There are three concepts:

  1. Bumblebee. A wallet that uses a vibrating motor to ‘buzz’ whenever the bank processes a transaction on the user’s account
  2. Mother Bear. A wallet designed to promote saving featuring a hinge that keeps the wallet shut tight when the user goes over budget
  3. Peacock. A wallet that grows and shrinks relative to the user’s bank balance

Here how it works:

Continue reading on Gizmag. Images from Gizmag.

Gorgeous inflatable airbag collar

[gallery] This gorgeous bicycle helmet by Hövding strikes a perfect balance between technology and fashion AND it's available on the market today.

"Hövding is a collar for bicyclists, worn around the neck. The collar contains a folded up airbag that you'll only see if you happen to have an accident. The airbag is shaped like a hood, surrounding and protecting the bicyclist's head. The trigger mechanism is controlled by sensors which pick up the abnormal movements of a bicyclist in an accident.

The actual collar is the visible part of the invention. It's covered by a removable shell that you can change to match your outfit, and we'll be launching new designs all the time. Hövding is a practical accessory that's easy to carry around, it's got a great-looking yet subtle design, and it will save your life." Continue reading on hovding.com.

Images from hovding.com. Also found on Fashioning Technology.

Modwells: Personal Modules for Wellness

[gallery] I'm currently working on a new project around the topic of healthcare and wellness. The project includes a variety of garments with integrated technology, which I'm currently designing. So stay tuned for an update on the progress. In the meantime, here's a short description:

Modwells is a new consumer-focused healthcare experience that is integrated into our daily lives and aimed to improve our physical and emotional health toward a better quality of life. It is modular, customizable, scalable, wearable and social.

The modwells system includes:

  • mods: a collection of sensors that collect and assess your health
  • trestle: a devices that allows you to view the data that you collect, recharge your pebbles and customize them
  • accessories: a collection of accessories and garments that allow you to extend the mod’s capabilities
  • application: allows you to manage your experience

Continue reading about Modwells here. Read about the initial research here.