3D printed footwear

[gallery] Designer Marloes ten Bhömer is focusing on mechanical couture through a series of beautiful 3D printed footwear called Rapidprototypedshoe. They are "built using an additive manufacturing technology in which successive layers of a photopolymer material is UV cured. The concept of the shoe is based on the idea of the absence of assembly work in Rapid Manufacturing, however the shoe is designed in such a way, that it can be dismantled for the purpose of replacing parts. The different material properties within the shoe are created by constructing/layering the material in microscopic structures from two different materials. A myriad of different material properties can be created using this method."

Continue reading at Bhömer's site. Images from Bhömer's site.

Project update: sensing spine movement

[gallery] I'm currently working on a project for a healthcare-related garment. The project consists of a set of garment accessories, each with their own functionality and sensing capabilities. I'm in the midst of prototyping one of them, which I thought I'd share. The garment will sense spine movement including slouch, arch and any imbalance in oblique positioning. Here's one of the early sensor explorations after a number of trials and tribulations with different materials to get the most accurate and washable sensor.

For more info on the project, there are a couple of postings available on the Artefact site: Understanding our need(s) for a new healthcare experience Envisioning a new healthcare experience

Stay tuned for more progress...

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.