Turn signal glove for cyclers

Cycling is becoming more and more popular, especially during summer months in the Pacific Northwest and in cities that are designed for biking. With the activity, however, comes danger. Just in Seattle alone, there have been a number of accidents and even deaths in the biking community. So naturally, I've been seeing a lot of technology-enfused gear that addresses safety issues, including this new product on Kickstarter from Portland, Or-based inventor, Jack O'Neal.

Inspired by Leah Buechley's DIY turn signal jacket, YouTurn is a patent pending motion-activated signaling system for cyclists. Using accelerometer technology, it reads the position of the riders hand in three-dimensional space, then activates one of two designated light patterns, quickly and accurately communicating the rider’s intention to nearby motorists.

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Challenging the aesthetics of circuitry

Leah Buechley, a pioneer in soft circuits and the creator of the LilyPad developers kit, has been experimenting with paper computing and circuits. Her circuits are quite beautiful and intriguing with possibility. The combination of aesthetics and interaction opportunities are endless with the freedom of simply painting circuits as if loosely sketching in a notepad. Imagine applying this technique onto garments where circuits are handpainted, silkscreened or even embroidered.

In fact, Becky Stern of Sternlab has taken this inspiration to heart by creating a piece titled "A Tribute to Leah Buechley". Using Buechley's LilyPad, she created a soft-sewn circuit that challenges circuit aesthetics by using one of the traditional garment-embellishing techniques...embroidery: