Imagine the ability to download any product data, modify it how you want to, and print it right there at home. They even have a community set up of designers and experts to help you “express yourself in 3D” and achieve what you imagine. Cubify had a lot of examples of the types of products that could be printed using their printers including an incredibly flexible mesh that they printed as a glove that was so soft to wear it almost took on fabric qualities.

My favorite were the full scale women’s shoes that just happened to be my exact size. So of course I tried them on. Hot off the printer with virtually zero touch-ups or assembly, these heels held my weight and were actually quite comfortable (well, as comfortable as 4-inch heels can get). One pair even included a slidable compartment to store your phone (although, I’m still not sure how I would answer it even with a blue tooth headset). Here’s a look at the 3D-printed footwear in action. This video was taken by the folks at Cubify at their booth that they generously shared with me. Thanks Cubify!

Info on 3D printing: cubify.com
2012 Consumer Electronics Show: cesweb.org
Images and more info at The Verge and Gizmodo

Similar to what the hardware-failed Jawbone Up was attempting to do, the Nike+ FuelBand tracks calories, steps and time your spend on dozens of activities such as running, walking, dancing through a sport-tested accelerometer. It then merges the data together to tell you how much overall “fuel” you have used throughout the day.

And, of course, the band also comes with an iPhone app that helps you see your progress, personalize your day, motivate you to keep going and share your progress with the world. Here’s how FuelBand works:

I can’t wait to get my hands on one to try it. More info and pre-order it at nike.com

The project had its roots in a course Meron took at Roosevelt HS last year — Introduction to Computer Science. That course, taught by Andrew Davidson, introduced students to the basics of computer science and engineering. Davidson says that the goal of that course was to “get students excited about computing and programming in a hands-on, project-oriented lab environment.” They experimented with physical computing applications using Arduino micro-controllers.

Meron’s final project for the course was a small LED necklace powered by a LilyPad (an Arduino variant designed for wearable technology applications). That led to her collaboration with Tsedey on the interactive gown for their senior project this year. Davidson says that Meron is now taking AP Computer Science, continuing her studies in Java.

Here’s how the project is starting to take shape…

Step 1: Concepting and design

The first step for the students was to understand basic electronic theory, sensors, and interaction possibilities. The girls already knew that they wanted to make an interactive wedding gown, so we walked through different inputs and outputs that sensors and electronics provide and started brainstorming ideas around the experience.

The final idea was to create an illuminated gown that invited social play. The dress would consist of 25 LEDs and a connection to Twitter through Twitter’s open APIs that could then be interfaced through a smartphone. At the end of the project, the plan was to have an event (such as a mock wedding), where the audience could tweet a message to the dress. Each tweet would light up an LED for a duration of time until it eventually faded off. If the audience collectively lit up all of the LEDs at once, they would change color, hence, inviting social play with a group goal…to change the color of the dress.

I reached out to R/GA’s Will Turnage who demo’d a Light-up Twitter jacket during a talk at SXSW last year that had similar capabilities. He provided us with the source code he used along with instructions that he has made available at wubbahed.com. Thank you for sharing Will! This could provide the students with a good foundation to learn from if they make it that far.

Step 2: Intro to eTextiles

While figuring out the concept for the project, I walked the students through a variety of eTextile techniques. They learned about different types of conductive threads, how to sew and work with the threads, and simple techniques to prepare electronics components for garment construction.

Step 3: Intro to Arduino and electronics

The next step was to start diving into the Arduino platform, which was the plan to use to construct the project. Thanks to Roosevelt’s Computer Science teacher, Andrew Davidson, the students learned how to work with an Arduino board, basic electronics, and programming. With a fairly ambitious concept, we began to simplify and focus on getting the LEDs to work only. If the students could achieve this, then they could add the twitter capability later on in the project or even in a second version of the dress. This was a good lesson in planning and phasing out these complex fashion+technology experiences.

Step 4: Intro to fashion design and construction

While learning the electronics and programming side of the project, they started learning about fashion design, pattern making and constructing. After some trial and error and 3 garment construction later…the gown is starting to take shape. And I must say, it’s going to look beautiful! The electronics will be sewn into the lining of the bottom portion of the gown so that the LEDs will illuminate behind the silver pattern in the fabric.

Next step: Integrating the circuit into the dress

The students are getting ready to finish the breadboard testing using the final components. Once the full circuit is working without a glitch, they’ll start integrating it into the garment. Stay tuned for our progress…

Way to go Roosevelt High! You ladies are making some excellent progress!

Engadget says: Sure, you may already lead an exciting life, but wouldn’t it be great if you could broadcast those daily escapades — you know, to all of your internet friends? ZionEyez hopes to deliver a method for sharing your point of view — quite literally — in realtime, across the web. The company’s first product, a set of 720p embedded-camera eyeglasses called Eyez, houses a tiny camera to the left of the standard-size eyeglass lens, with a processor, Bluetooth and WiFi module embedded in the adjacent ear piece.

Images from Engadget

But rather than changing resistence when stretched, the Roboden can be stretched up to a factor of 1.5 without changing resistance. They mention applications in the robotics field, but this could be very useful in wearable technology solutions where there is a need to integrate circuitry throughout the garment that can carry the same power and current when stretched.

Right now, the cable looks rather bulky to be used practically in wearables. I would love to see a smaller next version. Keep up the great work Asahi Kasei!

How they work
The glasses communicate with your smartphone via Bluetooth. Once the infrared sensors on the glasses detect somebody else wearing a pair of Sound Perfume goggles nearby, a message containing your name, contact number and your unique sound and smell signatures is sent to that person. In response, the recipient’s phone communicates with his or her glasses, which in turn emit your signature sound and odor.

The system can also be paired with a mobile phone’s camera to save not only the location and time an image was taken, but also the sound and smell information of the person in the photo. So when viewing the photo later or walking past the location, the sound and smell of the person you shared the experience with is triggered. What is the point of all that? The additional stimulation is to assist in building a fond multi-sensory memory of your encounter.

Continue reading on Gizmag

Spawned by successful products such as Nike+, cheaper components, and the Quantified Self movement, here are a just a couple that are making the rounds…
 

Zeo Sleep Manager

Zeo Sleep Manager is a wearable accessory and smartphone app that tracks and improves the quality of your sleep. The headband tracks your actual sleep stages through the night and how much restorative REM and Deep sleep you actually get. It then sends them wirelessly to the bedside display and your phone where it shows you how you slept, including how much time you spent in REM and Deep sleep, which are critical for mental clarity, physical well-being and peak performance. Zeo also gives you an overall sleep score you can track over time.

An interesting idea, however, I have just one question for you Zeo…is there really no other solution than to make me strap hardware to my forehead while I sleep? From a wearability perspective, this could be very uncomfortable for those who might toss and turn and simply unsexy.

Jawbone Up

Jawbone Up is flexible smart wristband and smartphone app that work together to help you live healthier. However, it’s plagued with a nightmare’s worth of hardware and battery problems for their v1 product. (A friend of mine is on his 4th band within just 1 month. Yikes!) But once they iron out the kinks, this accessory and experience has potential to be a great addition to a health-oriented lifestyle.

 

LUMOback

LUMOback is an exciting new product that is getting ready to hit the market in 2012. The experience includes a thin, flexible and wireless sensor adhesives that you put on your skin. These LUMOback sensors monitor and measure your posture in real-time. When you are slouching, it sends you small gentle vibrations to your lower back reminding you to sit up nice and straight on your iPhone.

Overall, we’re seeing more sensor accessories + mobile app-based experiences focused on health and lifestyle. It will be interesting to see how they do on the market and how long they will last.

In general, the garment was nicely fitted and comfortable to wear during my run. The fabric was breathable and helped block the cold Seattle air. The technology was subtle enough that it wasn’t bulky, uncomfortable, and it was discrete enough that it didn’t draw too much public attention. It felt like a useful addition that added some safety and visibility during a dusk run. Even so, there were a few problems in the experience and interaction that could be improved.

Accessing the switch on the garment was not optimal. Because it’s located on the back, I found it awkward to reach behind me to push the button. This could be improved by moving the push button into one of the front pockets so that it’s still accessible from the inside to remove for washing and also easy and discrete to interact with in a more natural and comfortable way. I also had no way to see the status of the light while wearing the garment. I had to either ask someone if the light was on, off or blinking, or take the jacket off to see the status of the light. This could be improved if some LED piping was run to the front of the jacket and made visible somewhere that is easy to see while wearing it.

Washability with wearable tech garments is always a major challenge. This garment features an internal battery pocket for the LED lighting and a back zipper pocket to hold essentials. I found it very easy to remove the battery from the pocket…

…and unhook the led for machine washing. Keep it up Lucy. I can’t wait for more products like this!

More info on the Nightlight Jacket at Lucy.

Her current explorations include a series of interactive costumes titled Wearable Weapons that she’s creating through a residency at Eyebeam. Here’s what she says she’ll be exploring during her time there:

I am planning to build a series of interactive costumes I call Wearable Weapons. I will be testing and collaborating to create at least 2 or 3 collars that use devices called Violet Wands that are placed in a large wearable armature. Violets Wands are sold both to the police department and the S&M community and are generally described as either self defense products or highly erotic electro-stimulation tools. The wands have a variety of intensity levels that do anything from burn to arouse the end receiver. I’m still working out what kind of interactivity the pieces will have, but the working idea is that they will respond both to sound and movement.

I can’t wait to see what she creates. Her gorgeous moodboard is certainly intriguing…

Eyebeam intern Katherine DiPierro sat down with Carrie Mae for a conversation on the intersection of technology and vulnerability. You can read the interview here at Eyebeam.

AND…If you want to get invloved with the project, Carrie Mae Rose is currently looking for an intern or collaborator. More info on the opportunity is here.

Continue reading on Fastcompany.

Or watch the video to see how it works. Be warned…this video is very sales-y (aka, cheesy) since they are targeting eyewear companies, not consumers: