This interactive dress visualizes New York City’s subway

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LEDs on this FLORA-powered dress light up according to nearest subway line.

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For those of you who have ever lived in or visited New York City, you know just how intimidating the subway system can be. Cognizant of this, Boram Kim has devised a clever (and stylish) solution to the problem. As shown on the runway at NYU ITP’s Spring 2015 Fashion Show, the Maker created an interactive dress capable of locating the nearest station through illuminated LEDs.

The garment — which visualizes the entire mass transit map in silver thread stitched on a denim-like material — employs an embedded GPS module that can detect a wearer’s location and then highlight the closest subway line via a series of NeoPixels.

“For example, if the user is closest to Classon Ave. station, which is a G train, the whole G line will light up with green color,” Kim writes.

On the inside, the Maker embedded several Adafruit FLORA (ATmega32U4) and GPS modules, all of which are soldered together. A NeoPixel strip was cut to create smaller pixels for the various station lights, which were wired and hot glued to the inner lining of the dress. A 3.7V LiPo battery is tucked away inside a little pocket.

Surely one of the more innovative wearables we’ve seen lately, you can head over to the Maker’s official page to learn more.

DECKO is an LED watch that bares its parts on a circuit board face

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This 60-LED watch may be the geekiest timepiece ever. And we love it.

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Aside from the pocket protector, the wristwatch has become a staple for any true geek. And we’re not just talking about any ordinary wrist-adorned device, it has to be unique — the dorkier, the better. So whether you’re a businessman, an athlete or an engineer, anyone looking to show off their geekery will surely love the latest creation from Terminus Electronics: a wearable that displays time using LEDs rather than the typical pair of rotating hands or digits.

Dubbed DECKO, the half-dollar-sized watch reveals the time by animating 60 LEDs on a circuit board face. Admittedly, it is as basic of a “smartwatch” as they come with only a few features like motion and tap detection for wake-up, and light sensing for auto-brightness. Unlike most of its teched-out counterparts, however, the device boasts a low profile and can last for six to 12 months on a single coin-cell battery.

In order to tell time, the hour winds from 12 o’clock around to the current hour, while the minute hand animates in place after the hour hand stops. This allows both the hour and minute to be distinguishable even when they overlap.

The low-power timepiece sleeps to save power when not in use, and wakes up when put into the usual horizontal viewing position. The watch can also be turned on and off by double-tapping the side of its case.

Time set mode is accessed with a quadruple tap of the watch, while a subsequent tap is required to start the process. This will cause the minute hand to begin rolling like a marble around the clock. From there, the time can be adjusted by simply rolling your wrist forward or backwards, and locked in by holding it steady.

An interesting feature of the DECKO is that it not only shows the time but how its embedded electronics work. Based on an Atmel | SMART SAM D21 MCU (which could be found the center of the face), the watch packs a 32 kHz crystal oscillator to keep time, an accelerometer to detect orientation and movement, and a light sensor to measure ambient light. The electronics are soldered to the board and housed inside a rugged metal case that is available in aluminum (black or silver) and brass.

What’s more, the wearable is water-resistant and fully customizable. The case fits standard 18mm NATO and ZULU straps, enabling you to mix and match various styles — ranging from steampunk for Maker Faire to patriotic for 4th of July celebrations. DECKO is available in a caseless version as well, which gives Makers the choice of designing their own enclosure for the inner PCB face.

Does this look like a watch you’d love to have? Head over to DECKO’s Kickstarter page, where the team is currently seeking $60,000. The first batch of devices is slated to begin shipping in November 2015.

This tiny sensor platform lets you build your own wearables

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MetaWear Coin is a complete, low-power solution that enables both Makers and businesses to develop wearable sensor products.

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Back in April, MbientLab unveiled a tiny BLE module that enabled Makers to build production-ready wearables right from their smartphones. MetaWear worked by connecting a product to a mobile device via Bluetooth, then logging or streaming six-axis of motion and environmental data. Following its success, the team has now launched a Kickstarter campaign for the MetaWear Coin — a mini, coin-cell powered sensor that can be used to develop any number of smart designs.

The highly-integrated Bluetooth platform includes wireless, sensor-packed hardware housed inside a simple and functional case, along with easy-to-use SDK and open source codes to help get Makers started. The MetaWear Coin is equipped with a BOSCH accelerometer, a temperature sensor, a BLE radio, a programmable pushbutton, an LED, GPIOs/SPI/I2C for additional sensors, as well as ARM Cortex-M0 SoC with 256KB of Flash and 16KB of RAM. The board can run three to six months on a single, replaceable battery.

Beyond that, the MetaWear Coin packs a robust set of features all into a tiny form factor, which makes it ideal for “always-on” applications in nearly every setting, such as health and fitness, gaming, navigation and sports. As the popularity for embedded fabric continues to rise, the sensor platform will also enable developers to craft efficient and intelligent wearable solutions for smart clothing, bags and other garments. Projects already created include an intelligent pocketbook, a temperature logging grocery bag and a concussion band that can detect head trauma, just to name a few.

“You tell the board what to do: read temperature data, log motion data, download log data in memory, sound an alarm when a button is pressed, adjust the volume of your Bluetooth speaker when the MetaWear is shaken, or anything else you can think of,” the team writes.

MetaSense’s proprietary software provides users with powerful analysis tools to better process sensor data, log information, receive input, keep tabs on movements, recognize gestures, turn devices on/off and trigger events.

Looking to get started on your own wearable solution? Head over to MetaWear Coin’s Kickstarter campaign, where the MbientLab crew is currently seeking $50,000. Delivery is expected to kick off in November 2015.

This necklace lets you play videos from its tiny screen

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The Tiny Screen Necklace lets you watch movie clips, show off your artwork and more.

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Chances are that you’ve watched a movie on the big screen, a small screen and even the screens of your handheld devices, but never before have you seen some scenes on such a tiny screen (try saying that five times fast) as the one on the wearable gadget devised by Margarita Benitez.

The aptly named Tiny Screen Necklace is exactly what it sounds like: a miniature screen that plays videos. The Maker, who happens to also be a fashion professor at Kent State University, created the project as both a piece of jewelry and video art that aspires to open a wide range of endless possibilities. As a recent OZY article points out, this can be anything from an artist broadcasting their work, a filmmaker showing off his movie trailer or a social media star having her Instagrams on a loop.

The idea for the necklace first came about following conversations with TinyCircuits’ Ken Burns, the inventor of the small and stackable electronics platform that can be found at the heart of this wearable unit. If you recall from its original Kickstarter debut, the TinyScreen is only 1.02″ x 0.98″ with a 0.96” viewable area that features a 96×64 OLED display and 16-bit color depth. The device was built to be personalized and programmed by a clever user base, much like Benitez, which is all made possible thanks to the ATmega328P driven TinyDuino.

What’s nice is that TinyScreen enables users to do everything from make a light blink to create a custom video game control console roughly the size of a quarter. Software processes the footage that is uploaded to the display embedded inside Benitez’s 3D-printed case. Typically, only a couple of lines of code are needed to get started.

In the future, the Maker hopes to not only sell her necklace, in both DIY and fully-assembled form, but open source its 3D-printable design as well. Benitez may even follow in the footsteps of TinyCircuits and launch a Kickstarter campaign of her own in the coming months. Until then, she remains optimistic about the future of wearable technology.  

“Maybe we’ll have clothing that can actually change patterns one day,” she tells OZY. “Media is always going to be everywhere, and if it can fit on your body, it will.”

Intrigued? Head over to the Maker’s official page here, and see the necklace in action below.

Introducing the Arduino GEMMA

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This wearable board is one bad mamma GEMMA!

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First announced last fall during Maker Faire Rome, the Arduino GEMMA is now available. The board, which was developed in collaboration with Adafruit, is a tiny wearable MCU that packs a whole lot of awesomeness in a 1.1” (28mm) diameter.

Similar to the latest version of the Adafruit GEMMA, the mini yet powerful platform is based on the ATtiny85. The MCU is supported in Arduino IDE (1.6.4 or higher) and programmable via microUSB. This enables all Makers to easily create wearable projects with all the advantages of being part of the Arduino family.

“It’s perfect for when you don’t want to give up your Adafruit FLORA and you aren’t willing to take apart the project you worked so hard to design. It’s the Adafruit and Arduino lowest-cost sewable controller,” Adafruit notes.

Ideal for small and simple projects sewn with conductive thread like the LilyPad Arduino, the tinyAVR powered Arduino GEMMA fits the needs of nearly every entry-level wearable creation — ranging from reading sensors and driving addressable LED pixels to Apple Watch-inspired buzzing mindfulness bracelets. The board features a USB bootloader with a nice LED indicator that resembles a USBtinyISP, allowing Makers to program it with the Arduino IDE (with just a few modifications). Beyond that, the Arduino GEMMA is equipped with a mini-USB jack for power and/or USB uploading.

“The ATtiny85 is a great processor because despite being so small, it has 8K of flash, and 5 I/O pins, including analog inputs and PWM ‘analog’ outputs. We designed a USB bootloader so you can plug it into any computer and reprogram it over a USB port just like an Arduino (it uses 2 of the 5 I/O pins, leaving you with 3),” Adafruit adds. “In fact, we even made some simple modifications to the Arduino IDE so that it works like a mini-Flora.”

Keep in mind that although it can be configured using the Arduino IDE, it is not entirely Arduino-compatible. Aside from the on-board tinyAVR MCU, other key specs include:

• Size: 1.1” (28mm) diameter and 0.28″ (7mm) thick
• Operating Voltage: 3.3V
• Input Voltage: Up to 16V (reverse-polarity protection, thermal and current-limit protection)
• I/O Pins: 5 (of which 2 can be used as PWM outputs and 1 as analog input)
• Flash Memory: 8KB (ATtiny85)
• SRAM: 512B (ATtiny85)
• EEPROM: 512B (ATtiny85)
• Clock Speed: 8MHz
• MicroUSB for USB bootloader
• JST 2-PH for 3.7 external Li-Ion battery
• Hardware I2C capability for breakout/sensor interfacing

Think you may like an Arduino Gemma for your next DIY wearable project? The board is now available for $9.95 on both Arduino.cc and Adafruit’s online store.

These kirigami-based, stretchable batteries may power future wearables

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Stretchable batteries inspired by origami could one day power smartwatches and other wearable devices, researchers say.

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Researchers at Arizona State University have created a battery that can stretch up to 150% of its original size, opening the door to a wide range of potential applications in wearable technology. Based on the origami variant kirigami, the team was able transform a larger battery into several smaller ones through a series of folds and cuts. As smart fabrics, watches and other devices continue to emerge, companies will surely be eager to embrace such an easily integrated, flexible power supply opposed to its much more rigid siblings.

Led by associate professor Hanqing Jiang, the battery was developed using slurries of graphite and lithium cobalt dioxide, then coating them onto sheets of aluminum foil to make positive and negative electrodes. From there, they added bends and cuts to establish the patterns. The result? A battery that could stretch while still maintaining full functionality.

Despite engineers having used origami as inspiration for foldable batteries that can flex in the past, the team says this marks the first time a lithium-ion battery has been made stretchable.

“Energy-storage device architecture based on origami patterns has so far been able to yield batteries that can change only from simple folded to unfolded positions. They can flex, but not actually stretch,” the researchers explain.

In order to test its efficiency, the kirigami-driven prototype battery was sewn into an elastic wristband attached to a Samsung Gear 2 smartwatch. Even as the strap was stretched in various ways, the battery was able to continue powering the watch and its functions, including playing video.

You’ll want to see it in action below!

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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Model 01

This open source ergonomic keyboard is giving your overworked pinkies a break and putting your thumbs to work. Keyboardio is currently seeking $120,000 on Kickstarter.

Doppel

This performance-enhancing wearable can naturally make you feel more alert or relaxed on demand using the innate human response to rhythm. Team Turquoise is currently seeking $155,412 on Kickstarter.

Pebblebee Stone

This all-in-one device allows you to track your belongings, control your favorite music and snap selfies along the way. Pebblebee is currently seeking $30,000 on Indiegogo.

Aria

This clip-on unit lets you use finger gestures to command your Pebble Time or Android Wear smartwatch. Deus Ex is currently seeking $100,000 on Kickstarter.

Wino

This small board is like a smaller Arduino with built-in Wi-Fi. IAN is currently seeking $28,019 on Kickstarter.

Micro Drone 3.0

This palm-sized, fully-customizable drone can livestream footage right to your smartphone. Extreme Fliers is currently seeking $75,000 on Indiegogo.

Bartesian

This Keurig-like machine enables you to create delicious cocktails at home without fancy recipes or multiple ingredients, just a capsule. Bartestian is currently seeking $100,000 on Kickstarter.

MYLE TAP

This voice-powered wearable automatically converts your thoughts into actions by way of mobile apps. MYLE is currently seeking $50,000 on Indiegogo.

Hank the Beer Tank

This kegerator plugs right into your 12V outlet and lets you enjoy draft beer from anywhere, whether that’s your next tailgate or picnic. Hank the Beer Tank is currently seeking $75,000 on Kickstarter.

Instamic

This small unit wants to do the same for microphones as GoPro did for cameras. Instamic is currently seeking $50,000 on Indiegogo.

Laser Cube 2.0

This laser cutter and engraver comes with supper easy Gcode software to bring you a more delightful experience. Makers Wei and Sunny are currently seeking $2,000 on Kickstarter.

T-Rex

This pair of earphones connect via Bluetooth to any device, providing you with completely wireless-free listening. T-Rex is currently seeking $50,000 on Indiegogo.

Flitchio

This first-ever smartphone case with a built-in controller lets you play games, browse the web, pilot drones and more. SUPENTA is currently seeking $77,809 on Kickstarter.

Tyia

This luxurious smart bracelet filters notifications to discreetlly alert you only when it’s important. Viawear is currently seeking $50,000 on Indiegogo.

Suli

This portable, multi-functional solar module can be adapted for a variety of uses in everyday life. Suli is currently seeking $20,000 on Indiegogo.

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. 

Aria adds gesture control to Android Wear and Pebble Time

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Deus Ex has come up with a solution to one of the biggest drawbacks of wrist-adorned gadgetry: having to use both hands.

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As if handheld computers and wrist-adorned gadgets weren’t enough in today’s tech-savvy world, a new smartwatch accessory wants to make controlling a wearable device as simple as moving a finger. In what would appear to be some sort of Harry Potter wizardry at work, Aria employs a layer of sensors to enable users to perform on-screen functions without ever having to physically touch the gadget.

More times than not, people’s hands are constantly full of things whether it’s a caregiver with a child, a housewife preparing dinner or an engineer hard at work. In any case, what if accessing a step count, checking a recipe, or playing a song was as easy one tap of the index finger? Capable of exactly that, a wearer slaps Aria around their wrist, calibrates it and then uses it to scroll through menus, launch apps and answer calls.

Aria is compatible with a wide range of watches including Pebble Time, Samsung Gear Live, Sony Smartwatch 3, LG G Watch R and Urbane, Motorola Moto 360, Asus ZenWatch, as well as any other Android Wear device. What’s more, users can customize their gesture controls for various functions, like scrolling down a menu with a ring finger or flicking a thumb to read an email.

The brainchild of London-based startup Deus Ex, the hands-free remote is comprised of a water-resistant silicone material that attaches to the underside of the watch and is held snug against the person’s wrist. This allows it to sense and analyze distinct tendon movements.

For its Kickstarter launch, Deus Ex has made Aria available in two different models: a clip for Android Wear and a smartstrap for  Pebble TIme, both of which feature varying connectivity options. The clip is Bluetooth Low Energy compatible, meaning that it should sync with countless electronics ranging from drones to action cameras. Meanwhile, the smartstrap communicates via a serial interface. Plus, the startup has revealed that it will be releasing an SDK for developers who want to explore their creativity and design apps of their own.

“Our focus is giving the best support and the best tools to the developer community. There are still thousands of applications and use cases for Aria that we want to empower you, the developer, to discover and exploit them all,” the team writes.

Interested? Head over to Aria’s official Kickstarter page, where Deus Ex is currently seeking $100,000. Shipment is expected to get underway in June 2016.

Report: Wearable device shipments predicted to grow 173% this year

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“Growth in the smart wearables market points to an emerging battleground among competing platforms.”

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An estimated 72.1 million wearable devices are expected to ship this year, IDC researchers have revealed in their latest report. If that’s the case, the number would surge 173% from the 26.4 million wearables delivered back in 2014. Moving ahead, the firm forecasts a CAGR of 42.6% over the course of the next five years, bringing the total shipped in 2019 to 155.7 million.

According to the report, nearly four in 10 wearables are now priced under $100. However, IDC expects devices classified as “smart wearables,” which refers to those capable of running third-party apps, to take the lead in 2016. These include gadgets like the Apple Watch and Micosoft’s Hololens that are believed to open up endless opportunities for vendors, app developers and accessory makers.

“The demand for basic wearables, those that do not run third party apps, has been absolutely astounding,” said Jitesh Ubrani, IDC senior research analyst. “Vendors like Fitbit and Xiaomi have helped propel the market with their sub-$100 bands, and IDC expects this momentum will continue throughout 2015.”

While the demand for more basic wearable devices, such as watches, fitness bands and eyewear, may have gotten off to a slower start, the market has certainly matured over the past couple of months with a wider range of products and improved consumer adoption.

Though shipments for the so-called basic wearables came in at 22.1 million in 2014, this segment will also continue to grow with 39 million projected for this year and 66.3 million by 2019. Meanwhile, smart wearables — which only stood at 4.2 million in 2014 — will rise to an incredible 89.4 million throughout the five year period.

“Growth in the smart wearables market points to an emerging battleground among competing platforms,” added Ramon Llamas, IDC research manager. “Android Wear, Tizen, and WatchOS are moving ahead with improved user interfaces, user experiences, and applications. These will raise the expectations of what a smart wearable can do, and each platform is vying for best-in-class status. We’re not there yet, but we’re seeing the building blocks of what is to come.”

MYLE TAP is the world’s first wearable thought catcher

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This touch-activated, voice-powered wearable automatically converts your thoughts into actions.

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Did you know that the average person generates over 70,000 thoughts each day? Many of which are forgotten. Let’s face it, we’ve all been there: a great idea pops into your head while in the shower, in the car or out for a jog, only to find that by the time you grab a pen and paper, that million dollar concept or simple to-do is out of mind. What if there was a device that could easily capture that thought in a matter of seconds and then automatically convert it into action?

That’s the idea behind the latest innovation from one Calgary-based startup who has devised what they’re calling the “first wearable thought catcher.” As its slogan would imply, the MYLE TAP is a super stylish, touch-activated wearable voice recorder that instantly registers and analyzes spoken words, then sends them to one of many commonly used mobile apps. This can be everything from writing a Facebook message to a friend to jotting down an appointment in the calendar while driving or sharing a memo to a colleague in Evernote.

In addition to dozens of integrated program already available, MYLE TAP also features several applications of its own, including those that can help keep tabs on groceries, manage personal budgets, count calories and even control IoT systems. What’s more, it understands 42 languages.

Based on an Atmel | SMART SAM4S MCU, the super compact and lightweight gadget is equipped with an accelerometer, a Bluetooth Low Energy module, a few LEDs and a built-in battery capable of running up to a week on a single charge. MYLE TAP boasts some impressive memory as well, with a storage capacity of up to 2,000 voice notes.

As for its software, the MYLE TAP is compatible with both iOS and Android devices, along with countless apps already installed on a majority of today’s smartphone and tablets. Beyond that, the startup’s SDK/API enables users to develop their own programs.

So whether you’re a businessman, a stay-at-home mom, a fitness buff or a marketing guru with a constant stream of ideas, this wearable thought catcher may be for you. If so, head over to MYLE TAP’s Indiegogo campaign where the team is currently seeking $50,000. Shipment is expected to begin later this year.