Issue #58 - March 15, 2006

BLUETOOTH WRISTWATCH FROM SEIKO: Seiko has announced their first Bluetooth watch, the BT Watch or CPC TR-006. This hi-tech watch is packed into a stylish casing and this watch will be released onto the market at the end of this year or beginning 2007. This watch is in fact an extension of your phone. It can alert you when you have an SMS or email, and it can display the number and the name of the person that is calling you. Finally, it will also alert you when the Bluetooth connection between the watch and phone is broken, so you won’t forget your phone anymore.

INTERACTIVE GLASSES FROM PENNY: Swedish company Penny is developing a new type of tool to interact with a computer by the use of a person’s eyes and temple muscles. Wearing a kind of regular-looking glasses, the user will see a computer screen projected into their field of vision. Founder Erik Lundström started the research for the technology used in the product C-More Interactive Glasses during the spring of 2000. The Swedish Vehicle Inspection Company has shown interest in the product.
WEARABLE COMPUTER FROM EUROTECH: Embedded computing specialist Eurotech has announced a wrist-worn wearable computer that runs embedded Linux or Windows CE. Eurotech’s WWPC (”wrist-worn PC”) offers a wealth of standard PC interfaces, along with several innovative wearable-specific features. It targets emergency rescue, security, healthcare, maintenance, logistics, and many other applications. It features a 72×55 mm active display area on the wrist, with touchscreen (input pen on the strap), direct-access keypad and joystick, support for USB HI devices, microphone, flat speaker, headset/stereo headphone jack.

GPS JACKET FROM GPSOVERIP: GPSoverIP and Interactive Wear have announced a trackable jacket. As well as a cell phone and an MP3 player, the GPSoverIP jacket comes fully fitted with personal tracking electronics. These are built into a small docking unit manufactured from special plastic, which can be removed before washing. Textile ribbon cable is fitted between the inside and outside lining and is not felt by the wearer. This cabling connects the docking unit to a headset fitted inside the collar, a microphone and a control panel with five buttons fitted to the sleeve of the left arm. An active GPS antenna is fitted on the shoulder. It sends each change in the wearer’s position via the Internet to a server in real time.

SOLAR CELL JACKET FROM BOGNER JEANS: Bogner Jeans are working in conjunction with partners from the “Solartex” project in the state of Baden-Württemberg, to find a solution that suits alpine skiers and winter sports fans alike. A denim jacket has been developed, whereby flexible solar cells can generate up to 2.5 watts of power in opti-mum sun conditions. The photovoltaic elements are positioned in exposed areas, which are also ergonomically sound, such as the shoulders and the back. Ultra-thin, washable micro-cables are sewn into the material and direct the electrical current to a universal point, where a variety of devices or batteries can then be charged.

AUGMENTED REALITY VEST FROM INTERACTIVE WEAR: Interactive Wear has announced an integration of all the individual electronics components and systems that are required for augmented reality into a vest. Until now, this technology usually had to be stored inconveniently in bags and then wired in a way that is relatively susceptible to disturbances and that hinders movement. This wearable computing integration, however, provides new degrees of freedom. Conceivable areas of application include industrial production, medical device technology (AR operations) as well as nearly all areas of research and development.

HEAD-MOUNTED DISPLAY FROM GEARZONE: Gearzone has announced its new head-mounted display GoggleVision. The HMD gives the wearer the impression of sitting in front of a 40-inches TV screen at a distance of two meters. It features two LCD screens and a pair of stereo headphones. GoggleVision can be connected to a TV, Playstation, XBox or DVD player. Screen resolution is 640*480 pixels RGB. (in Swedish)

NANORADIO LAUNCHES WORLD’S SMALLEST WIFI CHIPSET: Nanoradio has announced the launch of its first-generation WiFi chipset solution, the NRX700, for portable electronic devices. The chipset solution, with a total die size of only 20mm2, is claimed to be the smallest footprint in the market. Additionally, it has what is claimed to be the lowest power consumption in the world in transmit, receive and stand-by compared to any one- or two-chip solution in the market today. The target markets are mobile phones, portable media devices, wearable devices and other battery driven handheld consumer devices.

RESEARCHERS SHOW BRAIN-TO-COMPUTER INTERFACE: Researchers in Berlin have come a step closer to developing a device that will enable people to write and manipulate objects by reading their mind. The device is being developed by Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Architecture and Software Technology. Even if a person who is completely paralysed cannot move his eyes left or right he can still think with the left and right parts of his brain. These thoughts or signals would be enough to activate the device. Signals from the brain are measured by 128 electrodes affixed to the subject’s scalp, similar to an electroencephalogram (EEG).

MUSIC IN YOUR SHOES FROM DADA FOOTWEAR: Dada Footwear is launching a wireless footwear system dubbed “Code M”. The Code M System delivers both audio and data—through your sneakers! The Code M System is integrated into the basketball sneaker’s heel and tongue. It can hold up to 100 songs, running on a 6-hour battery life. To transfer songs onto the system, use the USB port on the side of the shoe. To listen to your music, use the included wireless headset, which picks up the music playing from your sneakers up to 30 feet away.

WEARABLE ELECTRONICS CONCEPTS FROM TONIA WELTER: Tonia Welter has developed a number of concepts for various wearable devices. Under the moniker “Schöne Neue Welt”, Tonia has developed USB cuffs, a keyboard made of tablecloth, a USB leather bracelet, a USB silicon bracelet, among other things.

EVENTS

CTIA WIRELESS 2006 IN LAS VEGAS: As the premiere global event representing the complete wireless, mobile computing and wireless Internet industries and the largest wireless show in the world, CTIA WIRELESS 2006 brings together all industries within communications and all those affected by wireless technology for three days of intense learning and networking. Don’t miss Fashion In Motion, the technology fashion show which will fuse the world of high fashion with the latest wireless technology.

Techstyle News is a free monthly newsletter providing summaries and commentaries on stories related to the next generation of mobile technology and style, produced by Thinking Materials. Please send any comments to info[at]thinkingmaterials.com