An incredible wearable technology resource list

Digital media designer-artist, theorist and curator Valérie Lamontagne has an incredible wearable technology resources page that lists the who's who and who's upcoming in the wearable technology and eTextile field. She has even grouped designers and organizations into very interesting categories such as "Context as Prerequisite", "The Garment as Amplifier of Fantasy", and "Material Witness". For anyone interested in this field, this is definitely one for delicious. Thank you Valérie!

Visit her resource page.

modwells: Personal modules for wellness

[gallery] I've been working on another wearable technology project via Artefact. The project is focused on the topic of healthcare and takes an integrated approach to the design that combines technology garments, industrial design and software.  Here's an update on the project, the concept, and where I'm at with it, which is only scratching the surface of the many possibilities of this platform. I would love to hear your thoughts!

Healthcare today

Today there is a significant conversation around health, wellness and healthcare experiences and an equal amount of investment happening in the consumer arena. So, I put on my thinking cap and started asking a few questions around this topic:

• How can we motivate people to live a healthier lifestyle?
• How can we engage people more in preventative care, and how can we increase their health awareness?
• How can we teach people how to stay healthy?
• How can we make health data more accessible?
• How can a personal health product adjust to the needs of different people? There are many systems which track a single set of data very well, but nothing that adapts to the personal needs of people and tracks multiple data combinations.
• How can this be done in a way that inspires us to want to use it and wear it?

I've been dissecting these questions into bite-sized chunks and came up with the following platform solution (read about some of the research findings on the Artefact website here):

modwells: Personal modules for wellness

The modwells system is a platform that delivers a consumer-focused healthcare experience integrated into your daily life. It improves your physical and emotional health, and enhances your quality of life. The system respects the unique health and wellbeing needs of each user and accommodates those needs through a customizable solution that blurs the line between traditional medical products and consumer products. The system consists of:

• Mods: a collection of input and output sensors that collect and assess health data, provide basic feedback and alerts.
• Trestle: A trestle that presents data and interaction. The trestle also recharges the mods wirelessly.
• Accessories: A collection of optional accessories that extend the mod’s capabilities. In this case, it is a body positioning garment.
• A cross-platform software application: enables users to work with their personal health data, manage goals, share experiences with friends and connect with healthcare professionals

Continue reading on the artefact website ...

Press Trendhunter, Gizmodiva, Global Post, Tuvie, Ecouterre, Talk2MyShirt

Sprint and BodyMedia team up

This week, Sprint, announced a partnership with BodyMedia, a company that develops wearable fitness technologies, which will expand the wireless carrier’s product portfolio to include embedded devices. BodyMedia develops body monitoring and weight-management systems, and currently offers several devices that track activity levels, calories burned, and sleep patterns, all in an effort to help consumers lead healthier lives.

The companies say Sprint will be the exclusive wireless provider for BodyMedia’s new line of FIT Armbands with embedded wireless capabilities, as well as the company’s future wearable body monitors.

Continue reading on Connected World Image from 7Gadgets

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.

Measuring physical activity

There's a ton of exploration going on in the healthcare space with regards to useful wearable technology applications.  Michigan State University's departments of Electrical Engineering and Kinesiology are investigating a wearable sensor network that measures a person's physical activity and overall well-being. I can see how this type of collecting and assessing biometric data can scale outside of healthcare into other areas such as sports and and sports medicine. "Using technology developed by engineering professor Subir Biswas, participants will wear three small, wireless sensors — on their wrist, upper arm and lower leg — that during any physical activity will measure not only the frequency, intensity and time but also now the type of activity, providing valuable information. The data then will be wirelessly transmitted to medical service providers' servers for remote assessment and well-being management." continue reading at physorg.com

Image from physorg.com

adidas produces glow-in-the-dark gear

[gallery] I'm a big fan of smart fabrics and intelligent clothing making it to market, which is another chance to introduce these types of concepts to consumers. Before you know it, they will be widely accepted, but we still have a ways to go. The new line of adidas' Stella McCartney glow-in-the-dark clothing does just that. It's functional by keeping you safe while running in the dark AND it is beautifully executed. We need more wearable technology garments that strike that perfect balance between functionality and aesthetics so that people want to wear them. I can't wait until my order arrives!

More info on adidas.com Images from therockerblog