This fiber optic dress is amplified by a wearer’s thoughts

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This EEG-powered dress shines red when alert and green when relaxed.

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Rain Ashford has been tinkering around with EEG-enabled wearable devices for quite some time now. In fact, she is in the midst of wrapping up her doctoral thesis. As part the process, the Maker has created a rather slick, interactive dress as a fun way to display engagement and moods in crowded situations, particularly those so noisy that hearing someone speak is virtually impossible.

The aptly named ThinkerBelle EEG Amplifying Dress uses a NeuroSky Mindwave Mobile EEG headset to collect brain information and relay that data to her garment to non-verbally communicate with those nearby. Ultimately, this leaves it up to observers to make their own interpretations from the brilliant spectacle.

“I created this dress in response to a subsection of feedback data from my field trials and focus groups, which investigated the functionality, aesthetics and user experience of wearables and in particular wearer and observer feedback on experiences with my EEG Visualising Pendant,” Ashford writes.

The dress was constructed out of satin fabric and fiber optic filament woven into an organza. The EEG headset collects and amplifies data in the form of two separate streams — attention and meditation — which are sent over via Bluetooth and visualized on the top layer of the dress through a series of LEDs. The illumination is controlled by an Adafruit Pro Trinket (ATmega328): red light signifies attention while green denotes a state of relaxation.

“The dress is constructed so the two streams of data light overlap and interweave. The fiber optic filament is repositionable allowing the wearer to make their own lighting arrangements and dress design,” she adds.

What’s more, the wearable project features a variety of modes, one in which lets the user record and playback the data. This means someone can design a combination of color and lights on the dress, then replay it after taking off the EEG headpiece. This enables the wearer to come across as though he or she is concentrating or relaxed to those around.

“Why would someone want to do that? Think of this much like a lie detector test. Sometimes you want people to know how you feel, and other times you would rather keep your thoughts to yourself. So, in this case if you want to appear calm even though you are really agitated, you can just have the dress display a previous calm time period,” the Adafruit crew explains.

Pretty cool, right? Check the project out in its entirety on Ashford’s page here. Not for nothing, the blend of these two colors makes for one heck of Christmas attire!

This mood-altering wearable will make you feel more alert or relaxed

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Doppel is a wrist-adorned device that can naturally make you feel more alert or calm you down on demand.

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The latest entrant in the wearable space is not a smartwatch, it’s not an activity tracker nor is it a heart rate monitor. In fact, it doesn’t even have screen or button. This means no annoying alerts, phone calls or emails. Instead, what is being billed as “a new breed of technology,” Doppel is a performance-enhancing device that can naturally make a user feel more alert or relaxed on demand using nothing more than the innate human response to rhythm. So, whether it’s getting ready for an intense workout at the gym, preparing for an important presentation at work or cramming for a crucial final exam in the library, the wrist-adorned gadget can harness the body’s natural reaction to stress and positively change its wearer’s state of mind.

The brainchild of London-based startup Team Turquoise, the wristband uses tactile rhythm, otherwise known as haptic feedback, to rhythmically tap a wearer’s wrist at the speed of their choosing: faster for a quick pick-me-up, slower for some calmness.

In order to get started, a user must connect their Doppel to its accompanying app, whether it’s via Bluetooth for a smartphone or USB for a PC, to measure their resting heart rate and calibrate the device to save their preferred settings. From there, everything is controlled through the wearable itself. A firm squeeze will increase the rhythm, stroking its face will slow the beat, while rotating the dial will amplify or soften the intensity. (Think of it like the volume knob on a stereo.)

Doppel is built around an ATmega328 MCU and features a microUSB charger. Impressively, its built-in battery lasts for over five hours at its maximum intensity, which is geared toward running. While at its lowest level, it will last for over 10 hours — plenty of juice for an entire workday and a gym session afterwards.

At the time of its crowdfunding debut, Doppel is available in three styles (black and white, original and classic) and with two different cuts for the strap (tapered and straight). Need a mood-alrtering wearable to help keep you calm in the day-to-day hustle and bustle? Head over to its official Kickstarter campaign, where Team Turquoise is currently seeking $155,412. Shipment is slated for April 2016.

Build your own activity monitor with Arduino

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RetroBand is an open source, ATmega328 powered activity tracker that pairs with your smartphone.

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Over the last couple of years, the wearable technology market has experienced tremendous growth, particularly when it comes to health and wellness. When thinking of the latest and greatest fitness bands, companies like Jawbone, Fitbit and Nike typically pop into mind. However, despite its surge in popularity, the cost of owning such a device has become as a major barrier in adoption. That’s exactly why an Instructables user “GodsTale” has decided to take it upon himself to create a DIY activity tracker using an Arduino Pro Mini (ATmega328), a Bluetooth module, an accelerometer, a LiPo battery and some custom software from his smartphone, all housed inside a 3D-printed case. Total cost: Less than $30.

The Maker, who recently designed the RetroWatch, says that the device he calls the RetroBand has only one feature: collecting data through its built-in accelerometer and relaying it to his smartphone. An accompanying mobile app (available on Google Play) then analyzes the accelerometer data and provides an output of calories burned as well as steps taken to the user. Subsequently, GodsTale urges that “this shouldn’t be called a ‘smart band’ since it has only simple features.”

The Android app is comprised of four parts: an Android UI, a Bluetooth manager, a background service and an algorithm section.

“The Android app check steps using collected data provided from RetroBand Arduino. The algorithm of the app is not that complicated. If you have much experience to this area, you can replace it with your own algorithm. The app saves the calorie data, so you can see the progress it in a monthly/daily/hourly graph form,” GodsTale explains.

The Maker has established a system where the accelerometer data is checked 20 times a second by the device. The gadget then transfers data to the smartphone application once a second. From there, the Android app receives the information in a matter of two seconds and determines an interval that the user’s movement increases dramatically — the number of movement increases is the step count. Beyond that, the app calculates calories burned based on user’s weight and steps, along with accumulated monthly, daily and hourly data.

At the brains of the operation lies an ATmega328. The Maker selected the Pro Mini board as “it works well with 3.7V lithium-polymer battery and its size.” He also employed a USB-to-UART converter to upload its source code.

One drawback of the RetroBand is that it cannot save data given its limited memory capacity, which is the reason for pairing it to a smartphone. GodsTale has made his code available on GitHub, while its Android app can be downloaded from the Play Store. Want to save some money on your next wearable? Head over to the project’s official page here to get started.

Build yourself a GEMMA-powered buzzing mindfulness bracelet

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Inspired by the Apple Watch’s Stand Reminder, Adafruit’s latest wearable project lets you know when it’s time to step away from your desk. 

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If you’re like nearly 90% of employees in America, you sit all day for your job. Add to that the time you spend on the couch after work watching TV, reading, playing video games and surfing the web, that’s an approximate total of 13 hours spent each day in a chair of some sort. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a little reminder letting us know to take a short break from time to time? That was the idea behind Becky Stern of Adafruit’s latest project: a buzzing mindfulness bracelet.

Powered by the one and only GEMMA (ATtiny85), the band emits subtle haptic feedback as the day progresses, offering a helpful hint to get off your rear and step away from the desk — even for just a few moments.

All too often, we get to the office, start working to look up and find that it’s already five o’clock. Where did the day go? Inspired by the Apple Watch’s Stand Reminder feature but at a mere fraction of the cost, this DIY project enables users to literally feel the passage of time, or at least “have a new awareness of how the perception of passing time varies based on what they’re doing.”

The wearable is comprised of a vibrating motor circuit, which includes a transistor, a resistor and a diode, along with a GEMMA to control the frequency of vibrations. The circuit itself is housed inside a linked bracelet, however as Stern notes, it can be embedded into pretty much anything such as the rubber from a bicycle’s inner tube.

This bracelet is created out of folded figure-8 shapes cut from leather, along with a pair of elongated tabs for its closure. Once the GEMMA is inserted into its resting place, a small hole is poked to make room for the resistor to fit through. From there, a Maker simply needs to solder the electronic components among the loops of the bracelet and voilà!

A user must then plug in the ATtiny85 powered board over USB to load up the code and adjust the timing intervals based on their haptic preference. In this case, the time interval is set to one hour, but can be modified by the user. Although the times are stored in milliseconds, the design does use the tinyAVR’s Watchdog Timer (WDT) to conserve power. What’s also nice is that, since it spends most of the day in sleep mode, the battery lasts for quite a while.

Looking to become more mindful as to how you spend your days? Head over to Adafruit’s step-by-step tutorial here to get started.

15 smart crowdfunding campaigns you may want to back this week

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Every Friday, we’re taking a look at some of the smartest, most innovative projects that have caught our attention on Kickstarter and Indiegogo over the last seven days. 

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OWOW

This new breed of MIDI controllers empowers you to make digital music in a more fun and intuitive manner. OWOW is currently seeking $55,568 on Kickstarter.

Holus

This tabletop holographic platform converts digital content from any computer, tablet or smartphone into a 3D hologram. hplustech is currently seeking $40,296 on Kickstarter.

AUMEO

This pocket-sized device provides a personalized listening experience by mapping your sensitivity to different sounds and then adjusting accordingly. AUMEO is currently seeking $40,000 on Indiegogo.

Vinli

This small gadget plugs into your vehicle’s OBD II port, enabling you to access a suite of apps from your mobile device. Vinli is currently seeking $75,000 on Indiegogo.

MOVEMENT

This $30 wearable band offers the same tracking functions as the major industry heavyweights — at a fraction of the cost. TRASENCE is currently seeking $12,000 on Kickstarter.

AllBe1

This all-in-one personal security companion combines a variety of features including an infrared alarm, a tracker, a smartphone lock, a motion detector, a UV monitor and more. AllBe1 is currently seeking $50,000 on Indiegogo.

Ola Fingerprint Smart Lock

This smart lock incorporates both Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity and capacitive fingerprint technology, making it not only keyless but phoneless as well. Ola is currently seeking $125,000 on Kickstarter.

Strips

This uber thin, practically invisible magnetic sensor can be placed on windows and doors, then notify you by smartphone if anything is left open or in the event of an intruder. Sensative is currently seeking $25,000 on Indiegogo.

Nikola Phone Case

This sleek, protective phone case extends your battery life by harvesting wasted RF energy. Nikola Labs is currently seeking $125,000 on Kickstarter.

Aistin 

This Internet of Things sensor platform is comprised of super lightweight, low-power modules with Arduino conformance. iProtoXi is currently seeking $56,000 on Indiegogo.

LoveLinkU

This colorful pod, which comes complete with a motherboard, an infrared controller, a speaker and microphone, is capable of controlling your smart home appliances through voice commands. LoveLinkU is currently seeking $10,000 on Kickstarter.

eNote

This e-ink display works like an electronic Post-it note by wirelessly connecting to any mobile or gateway device. Bill Saltzstein is currently seeking $75,000 on Indiegogo.

Yecup

This smartphone-controlled mug lets you monitor the temperature of your drink, charge your handheld gizmos and gadgets, as well as take selfies with the mere press of a button. Yecup Technologies is currently seeking $40,000 on Indiegogo.

SmartCap

This intelligent, Arduino-based cap tracks liquid consumption and reminds you when to take a sip by syncing with your Fitbit dashboard. SmartCap is currently seeking $45,000 on Kickstarter.

BlueberryE

This Arduino-compatible board comes with a 3.3V levelshifter for I2C, SIP and Serial SRAM, as well as a variety of sensors, Wi-Fi connectivity and a switchable power plug. BlueBerryE is currently seeking $1,693 on Kickstarter.

Did you happen to miss last week’s notable campaigns? If so, you can check them out here. Also, if your project is powered by Atmel MCUs and you’ve been featured on our blog, be sure to download the respective badges here for use in your ongoing marketing efforts. 

This IoT device will help detect heatstroke during road races

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Telefonica and GFI Informatique have developed a wearable device that will be able to stop heatstroke before it occurs.

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Recent studies have shown that long distance running involves a slightly increased risk of death but it’s heatstroke, not heart-related issues, that are the culprit. Luckily, when racers take their mark this weekend at the Proniño six-mile race in Madrid, they will only have to focus on battling each other, not so much high temperatures. That’s because Telefonica and French IT services group GFI Informatique have announced a new device that will be able to prevent heatstroke before it occurs.

The battery-powered gadget, which measures just 58mm x 30mm x 27mm, can be comfortably clipped onto a wrist and head band, or any part of a runner’s clothing for that matter. Still in its prototype stage, the wearable is based on an Arduino Pro Mini (ATmega328), and features a GPS module, a Lilypad temperature sensor and an M2M SIM card with global coverage. Additionally, it packs a LiPo battery with a life of about eight hours, which should be plenty for the duration of the event.

During the race, staff will use a special web-based app to monitor a runner’s position and body temperature, ensuring that the latter doesn’t exceed 104°F — one of the first signs of heatstroke. Meanwhile, the unit’s built-in GPS will provide accurate positioning of the wearer’s whereabouts throughout the course. The prototype will be connected to S.A.M.U.R. (Servicio de Asistencia Municipal de Urgencia y Rescate) should any emergencies arise.

Beyond spotting potential risks in marathons and other strenuous sporting activities, its creators say that the device can be used in outdoor work environments that entail high exposure to heat, as well as by the elderly and children — two segments of the population most likely to suffer from heatstroke.

TRASENSE MOVEMENT is a smart daily tracker for under $30

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One Shenzhen startup is looking to democratize the wearable industry with its affordable fitness band.

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Unlike other fitness trackers available on the market today that can run anywhere from a $100, a new wearable device from Shenzhen-based startup TRASENSE packs much of the same punch as industry heavyweights but at a mere fraction of the cost.

Priced under $30, the MOVEMENT is a super easy and affordable way to begin dabbling into the quantified-self era. Boasting a sleek, unisex design, the unit comes in black and purple with more colors likely to follow its crowdfunding campaign.

The lightweight device is comprised of a TPSiV bangle and a Polycarbonate/aluminum hybrid case, which houses a Bluetooth Low Energy module, an accelerometer and a custom PCB. The incredibly power efficient piece of hardware boasts a battery life of one to two weeks, while recharging its battery requires just about an hour.

The information collected through the wearable band is transmitted to an accompanying app named LYTICS. Much like those of its competitors, TRASENCE has designed its program to provide all of the data configurations that users have come to expect, including steps taken, calories burned and sleep cycles. What’s more, MOVEMENT is focused on making data more action-oriented, hence its name. For instance, if a user has not been achieving their regular targets, the app will offer up a small tip to help get back on par.

While time will only tell as to how it lives up to the rest of the market, at $23, it’s certainly worth a try. Want one of your own? Head over to its Kickstarter page, where the TRASENCE crew has already surpassed its $12,000 goal in a matter of hours.

Pet Tutor Blu is a universal smart training and game system for dogs

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Pet Tutor Blu combines a BLE-enabled feeder and a mobile app to make an advanced game-and-training station for you and your pet.

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As lovable as they may be, dogs can sometimes be a challenge to live with. Between excessive barking, chewing things, going to the bathroom inside the house, rummaging through the trash, eating too fast or suffering with separation anxiety, reward-based training has become a proven technique in an helping curb these issues.

Developed with this in mind, Smart Animal Training Systems has launched a Kickstarter campaign for the Pet Tutor Blu, a wireless system consisting of a feeder and a LightBlue Bean-powered (ATmega328P) remote that trains, rewards and provides hours of fun and interactive play for man’s best friend.

The aptly named Pet Tutor Blu combines the many benefits of its earliest predecessors with some of today’s most advanced technology. This includes rewarding good behavior with strategically timed treats, calming a fearful dog with remote-controlled food delivery, creating personalized training protocols and feeding schedules, adding a webcam, and expanding the capabilities of other Internet-enabled accessories, all through an accompanying mobile app (available on both iOS and Android).

In addition, the next-gen system comes with an optional, ATmega328P based Smart Clicker that can transform ordinary dog toys into smart training tools. Employing the scientifically proven technique of clicker training, the gadget features an on-board computer tasked with displaying feedback on timing, rewards and success rates to enhance the effectiveness of training. Meanwhile, a tilt sensor embedded inside the Smart Clicker triggers the feeder located in close proximity, encouraging the dog to run back and forth between the feeder and the toy.

Pet Tutor Blu also features an accompanying app, which allows users to control multiple feeders individually or up to eight simultaneously, set feeder times and training parameters, customize the Smart Clicker with preferred sounds and volumes, as well as access the app library for newly-connected objects.

What’s more, those who’ve ever had an idea for a training program or game can now do so. Designed with an open architecture, Makers and developers have the ability to create new games, apps and training programs for their beloved pet using its accompanying API. Beyond that, Pet Tutor Blu features a plethora of exciting games not only for the pet, but the owner too, like Timing Tutor that sharpens a user’s training precision.

Have a pup you’d like to train? Hurry over to its official Kickstarter page, where the Smart Animal Training Systems crew is currently seeking $30,000. Shipment is expected to begin in December 2015 — just in time for the holidays!

My Driving Pal lets you keep tabs on the things that matter most

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Get ready for the Internet of Important Things!

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Created by Shahram Rezaei, My Driving Pal (MDP) is a multi-purpose solution that allows users to keep tabs on a variety of facets in their everyday life, whether that’s a child, a bike or a vehicle.

The system is comprised of a credit card-sized device, an accompanying mobile app that wirelessly communicates over Bluetooth Low Energy and a backend server. Built around an AVR MCU, the gadget packs a GNSS receiver, a cellular modem, an accelerometer, a temperature sensor, a 1500mAh lithium-ion battery, a SIM Card and a mini-USB connector — all housed inside a 3D-printed case.

Whenever the MDP unit and its paired smartphone are within the maximum range approximately 50 feet of one another, the MDP tracks the item and the device goes into idle mode. The data remains on the smartphone and is not transmitted to the MDP server. However, once the thing being monitored goes beyond the designated area, the MDP’s built-in GNSS receiver and cellular modem are activated. From there, the user receives a push notification.

Beyond merely offering location-based services, the MDP can even forward a user alerts regarding the temperature inside of their car, which can come in handy for those with a child or pet. That being said, there is an assortment of other uses for the all-in-one system, ranging from identifying the whereabouts of pets, keeping an eye on older loved ones suffering from Alzheimer’s in danger of wandering off, or locating a drone that has gone astray. What’s more, the device can also be helpful in simply recording and logging distances on a road trip, biking or leisurely stroll.

The MDP server runs on the Amazon EC2 cloud. While an iOS version of the mobile app is already available, Rezaei notes that a beta version for Android is currently in development.

Intrigued? Head over to its official Kickstarter page, where the team is seeking $35,000. At the time of its campaign, My Driving Pal comes in a variety of colors — white, green, blue, yellow and pink — and begins shipping in November 2015.

Report: Shipments of wearable devices triple as prices get lower

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The wearable market recorded its eighth straight quarter of solid growth, according to a new report by IDC.

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Even in the months leading up to the highly-anticipated release of the Apple Watch, the wearable space continued to show strong growth, IDC has confirmed. In its latest report, the research firm revealed that the worldwide market recorded its eighth consecutive quarter of steady maturation in the first quarter of 2015. During this three-month period, vendors shipped a total of 11.4 million devices — a 200% jump from the 3.8 million wearables shipped that time last year.

“Bucking the post-holiday decline normally associated with the first quarter is a strong sign for the wearables market,” IDC research manager Ramon Llamas said in the report. “It demonstrates growing end-user interest and the vendors’ ability to deliver a diversity of devices and experiences. In addition, demand from emerging markets is on the rise and vendors are eager to meet these new opportunities.”

The top five wearable vendors over the timespan included Fitbit, Xiaomi, Garmin, Samsung and Jawbone, in that order, each of whom have been able to collectively grow their dominance from two-thirds of the market in Q1 2014 to three-quarters Q1 2015. Fitbit’s extensive lineup of bands, such as the Charge, Surge and older Flex models, led the way by capturing just over a third (34.2%) of the space. Not far behind, Xiaomi made up about a quarter (24.6%), driven by the tremendous popularity of its Mi Band, primarily from China.

Meanwhile, Garmin’s health and fitness-focused devices, Samsung’s Gear smartwatches and Jawbone’s UP MOVE and continued demand of UP24 round out the list at 6.1%, 5.3% and 4.4%, respectively. Now with the Apple Watch in the equation, however, IDC expects that the wearables landscape will experience a seismic shift, one in which will “force the competition to up their game in order to stay on the leading edge of the market.”

Without question, helping to spur widespread adoption has been price erosion. As seen with many young forms of technology, gizmos and gadgets become much more affordable over time. In the case of wearables, more than 40% of devices are now priced under $100.

“Despite this price erosion, Apple’s entrance with a product priced at the high end of the spectrum will test consumers’ willingness to pay a premium for a brand or product that is the center of attention,” explained IDC research analyst Jitesh Ubrani.

Want to learn more? Download the entire report here.