Wearable technology for runners

[gallery]Continuing on the theme of wearable technology for runners, I was recently at the San Francisco marathon (no, I didn't run it, but supported a friend who did) and noticed that every runner was wearing a small bit of technology on their shoes. The technology is a flexible and disposable RFID tag by UPM Raflatac that you wrap around your shoe lace. A "reader" is placed at the start and finish line. When you cross either, the tag on your shoe is read by the reader at the exact moment you cross the lines. The accurate racing information is then sent to a database that keeps track of your start and finish time and calculates your pace.

Aesthetically, the technology is visible on the inside, which displays the RFID antenna in the shape of a dogbone (as they call it). The pattern and texture is actually quite beautiful. Next time I run a race, I'll be wearing one of these inside out.

Wearable technology hits the big leagues

Three Northeastern University engineering students have developed a data-logging compression shirt that helps baseball pitchers avoid elbow injuries. "The high-tech sheath, which is fitted with motion sensors and a web of conductive threads, tracks its wearer’s pitching mechanics during a game in real time, then relays that data to a monitor in the dugout. By analyzing the information, coaches can spot inconsistencies that could result in injury, whether as a result of fatigue or poor technique." Continue reading on ecouterre.com.

I would love to experience this project in action.

Photo from ecouterre.com. More info on northeastern.edu.

Technologies that are transforming sports

[gallery] The sports field is constantly innovating in wearable technology and it is one of the many fields that I absolutely love. The possibilities to aid athletes and optimize performance are endless. "Athletes capitalize on advances from engineering, material science, biomechanics, communication and information technologies to maximize training and performance. ...Technologies are transforming every aspect of sport, including coaching, judging, even the design of sports arenas and spectator experience." (source)

Here are a few of the technologies that are either in use today or that are being explored for future applications (from left photo to right):

Wearable computers - are clothes that are embedded with electronics that monitor the athletes heart rate, breathing pattern, temperature, hydration and more.

Ingestible computers - such as thermometer pills wirelessly transmits body temperature.

Tool-less manufacturing - analyzes body geometry and allows direct digital manufacturing rather than molded dies for a true custom fit.

Biomimetics - borrowing techniques from nature to enhance performance such as the finely divided setae found on gecko's toes allowing the animal to stick to anything, even glass.

Carbon nanotechnology - artificial muscles made of carbon nanotubes that contract at faster speeds than human muscles allowing the wearer to adopt super human strength.

Computational fluid dynamics - using 3D body scanners, engineers can analyze skin friction and create body suites that optimize performance in air and water.

Reactive materials - protecting athletes from risky sports, materials with nanoparticles become instantly rigid as soon as kinetic energy is applied.

Continue reading on Discovery Tech. Images from Discovery Tech.

Smart Fabrics 2009 Conference Review

This review by the folks at Innovation in Textiles of the 5th annual Smart Fabrics Conference that took place in Rome this year is definitely worth the read for anyone who is interested in wearables. In a nutshell, the newly forming eTextile business sector is rapidly developing legs outside of research, educational institutions, and DIY enthusiasts toward consumer products and mass markets. Read the full review ›

Sony Ericsson + cell phone dress

  "Former Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova presented a prototype dress to reporters that is designed to light up when the wearer's mobile telephone rings. British fashion student Georgie Davies dreamed up the knee-length short-sleeved white dress as part of a school project with mobile phone-maker Sony Ericsson to figure out ways of incorporating new technology into fashion.

Davies said the dress is designed to eventually be connected to the wearer's phone by Bluetooth wireless technology, so she can be alerted to a call even in noisiest of places."

What's cool about this is that the simple concept has gotten so much attention from its Sony Ericsson sponsorship. Someday, concepts like this will hit the mainstream.

via reuters

Voice-activated inflatable combat

Front v3.0 developed a wearable device that changes and responds to the wearer's emotions. The Millefiore Effect is a voice activated inflatable combat game that is played between two people. It "elicits and facilitates responses and communication between people. This work both relies on and disrupts our codes of behavior and interaction with others."

These humorous garments are made of sections of offensive and defensive inflatable air sacs. A microphone is attached to the back of each garment that detects the volume of voice. This triggers fans that either inflate or deflate the wearer's or the opponent's garment.

What's fun about these gorgeous space-age garments is that the concept plays with the unpredictable variables in human conflict by allowing your emotional response to strategically protect you from your component or offensively attack. 

Watch the movie of it in action here.