Andy's Wearable Computing Notebook

Clothing

Levi’s – RedWire™ DLX Jeans for iPod

Levi’s is launching a wearable technology revolution with the introduction of new Levi’s® RedWire™ DLX Jeans available worldwide in fall 2006. The jeans are esigned for both men and women. An iPod docking cradle is built into the jeans and is “invisibly” housed within a side pocket. A special joystick remote control is externally designed into the jeans’ watch pocket to enable operation of the iPod. A handy retractable headphone unit has been built directly into the jean to help prevent tangles and efficiently manage the iPod earphone wires.

O’Neill Europe – H2 Integrated Solar Backpack

O’Neill Europe are stoked to announce the arrival of the H2 series, another milestone in boardsport orientated wearable electronics. The H2 series includes the world’s first Integrated Solar Backpack with communication and entertainment functionalities, an Entertainment Backpack and the second-generation Communication & Entertainment Jacket (formerly known as the HUB). All products in the O’Neill H2 series have been developed for use in conjunction with Apple’s iPod MP3 player.

Scottevest – Technology Enabled Clothing

The new VERSION THREE.0 clothing line allows users to discretely carry multiple electronic devices in the concealed, ergonomically designed pocket system, as well as connect gadgets with the patented Personal Area Network (PAN) licensed by SeV’s parent company, TECHNOLOGY ENABLED CLOTHING® (TEC®). The PAN consists of hidden channels that allow users to connect devices without any visible wires. Now, it’s easy to connect cell phones and music players to PDAs, power sources, and/or listening devices, such as earbuds and headphones. In addition to connectivity, special pockets are designed to accommodate digital cameras, portable keyboards, GPS devices, small laptop computers, two-way radios, bottled water, airplane tickets, magazines, wallets, keys, and much more. In cities and areas requiring hands-free devices while driving, the PAN is the ideal solution.

seamless – Computational Couture

seamless is a fashion event featuring innovative and experimental works in computational apparel design, interactive clothing, and technology-based fashion. Each project [re]interprets the conceptual goal of a seamless relationship between technology and fashion. These are real clothes that inspire and provoke. seamless is funded (in part) by the Council for the Arts at MIT.

Reima – Wearaphone Backpack

The Reima Wearaphone Handsfree Backpack is a light and comfortable backpack combined with a Wearaphone handsfree mobilephone device.

Bristol CyberJacket

The Bristol Wearable Computing Project’s CyberJacket, designed in collaboration with Annie Lovejoy, was shown at ISWC 2002 demonstrating soundscapes constructed using the user’s position and orientation – see “A Walk in the Wireless Woods” – as well at the SIGGRAPH04 CyberFashion Show.

GapKids and Wild Planet – Hoodio

The Gap has introduced a fleece jacket with a built-in radio for kids. The Hoodio has a control keypad located on the sleeve and a hood that conceals the speakers, which are removable. The jacket comes in black, green, blue and pink, and retails for about US$70.

VivoMetrics – LifeShirt System

The LifeShirt System is the first non-invasive, continuous ambulatory monitoring system that can collect data on pulmonary, cardiac, and other physiologic data, and correlate them over time. The LifeShirt System gathers data during the subject’s daily routine, providing pharmaceutical and academic researchers a continuous “movie” of the subject’s health in real-life situations (work, school, exercise, sleep).

Wealthy – Wearable Health Care System

A new concept in healthcare is emerging, aimed at fulfilling the need to continuously monitor the patient’s vital signs through a ground-breaking woven sensing interface to be worn without any discomfort for the user. In this project, smart material in fiber and yarn form endowed with a wide range of electrophysical properties (conducting, piezoresistive, etc) will be integrated and used as basic elements. The simultaneous recording of vital signs allows parameters’ extrapolation and inter-signal elaboration. This contributes to evaluate the patient’s synoptic data table and to trigger alarm messages. The WEALTHY system will be implemented by integrating computing techniques, smart sensors, portable devices and telecommunications, together with local intelligence and a decision support system.