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.

More on Kickstarter Image from Kickstarter

An explosion of wearable fitness devices

There seems to be an explosion of fitness-related wearable devices hitting the market that take advantage of smaller, cheaper on-body sensing technology. From watches to smart jewelry, these pervasive devices are designed to help you keep track of your health by allowing you to measure and monitor a variety of bio-metric data. Here's a look at a few that have hit the market or plan to hit the market soon:  

The Motorola KORE is, according to the trademark description Fusible spotted, an “electronic non medical portable physical activity monitor and fitness device” that could be used, in a similar way to Nike+, to track your exercise regime and give feedback on it.

NewYu is a similar connected fitness monitor that tracks all of your movement through a wearable device and allows you to set and manage goals through connected software.

Scosche Industry's myTrek sends workout vitals to your iPhone, starts shipping now for $130

Fitbit includes a wearable clip device and software that automatically tracks your fitness and sleep and lets you know if you got enough exercise and sleep for the day and how many calories you burned.

Muve’s Gruve (another wearable clip) measures your calorie burn and activity intensity throughout your day.

Switch2Health's Replay is a “Gaming for Health” watch that provides incentives to change behavior (and it's only $19.99).

Basis (previously PulseTracer) includes Basis Band that measures heart rate and other vital signs. They plan to allow third party developers to build apps that work with the device.

Adidas miCoach (also shown above) adidas' version of Nike+ now offers an Andriod app that includes real-time audible coaching for any sport.

Philip's DirectLife, which has been on the market for a while, includes a devices that can be worn like a necklace. It tracks how much you move every day, you set goals and track your progress. You get suggestions about how to increase your activity levels at your own pace, and you even get a personal coach who can help you stay motivated.

...and there are many many more ...

The new aesthetic of second-skin sports textiles

There's a growing trend in making high-performance textiles beautiful and more fashionable in the medical and sport sectors (see the related post on the aesthetics of personal medical devices) even if they are somewhat invisible to others. It's based on the psychologically that if you look good, you feel good therefore you perform better. Here's a look at a few second-skin fashionable performance textiles:

Above: Nike Women's Yoga Footstickers - There are many advantages of bare feet sporting: better motion control, more feeling in your feet and direct floor contact, etc. The footsticker improves the activity and keeps the barefoot feeling. The flexible material is like a second skin, the 'skin /touch sensation' is not disabled. The footsticker can give more grip, support and protection.

Women sport socks Knitted pattern of different materials, for knee and ankle support

Women sport legging Knitted pattern of different materials, to stimulate the blood flow to the muscles

Women sport tape With lace pattern

Continue reading at Behance Network. Images from Behance Network (leggings), Behance Network (footwear)

Paint with your feet using Nike+ GPS

[gallery]YesYesNo created Software that converts Nike+ GPS running patterns into works of art for the launch of the Nike Free Run+ 2 City Pack series called Nike + Paint With Your Feet. It's a great example of how connecting sensor data to software that visualizes the data in new ways can provide a truly magical experience. This project visualizes speed, consistency and ultimately the runner's unique running style that is printed as works of art on large poster-sized paper and the packaging itself.

Using the software the participants were able to play with the mapping and adjust the composition of their run which was then outputted as a high resolution print for them to take home. We also worked with the Innovation Lab at Nike to laser etch the runner's name, the distance they ran and their run path onto a custom fabricated shoe box, which contained a pair of the 'City Pack' shoes from their city of origin

Project info on YesYesNo. Images from YesYesno.

Gesture controlled fitness experience for runners

[gallery]Designer Adrien Guenette has envisioned a wearable experience aimed to help runners control their music through simple gestures during their run. "Technology is at its best when it feels completely natural." Guenette says. The concept includes a fitness watch called the "beat watch" that pairs your music with your performance stats to help motivate you to perform better. Additional accessories that wirelessly communicate to the watch detects stride, heart rate and gestures that allow you to control the music. I'm not a huge fan of having too many accessories during my work out, but the idea of controlling the experience hands-free through simple gestures is very appealing.

More at beatnow. Images from Beatnow.

adidas megalizer dj-mixing footwear

[gallery] Paris-based "creative technologist" Didier Brun is developing a fantastic project for adidas to help promote the release of their sneaker collection MEGA. The project includes embedded sensors in the line of footwear that allow you to create your own beat depending on how you tap the shoes. The result is a playful composition of dance and music. Watch the video for a demonstration. Truly fantastic.

More info here.