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!

Eyez™ records live video data and takes pictures. The data can then be stored on the 8GB of flash memory within the Eyez™ glasses, transferred via Wifi/Bluetooth or Micro USB to a computer, or wirelessly transferred to most iPhone or Android devices. After a one-time download of the “Eyez™” smartphone and tablet app, users can wirelessly broadcast the video in real time to their preferred social networking website, such as Facebook.

They are already funded nearly $300K on Kickstarter and plan to release their first line in Winter 2012. If you pledge $150 or more in the next few days, they’ll send you a pair when they’re ready.

More info on Kickstarter.

Here’s how it works:

• The batteries, microchip and speaker are all in the left hand. This means that the left hand has a fully-contained playback circuit.
• In order to activate playback, press the thumb and the forefinger of the left hand together.
• The only components in the right hand are the microphone and an indicator LED.
• When the left and right palms are pressed together, the record circuit is connected at three points, two on the heel of the hand for power and ground and one on the side of the hand for input from the microphone.
• Record is activated by pressing the left and right thumbs together.
• The embroidery makes it possible for the wearer to use a variety of thumb positions for record and playback.

Via talk2myshirt
More info at meggrant.com
Images from meggrant.com

And the kicker? They can be purchased OR you can make them yourself. The iCuffLinks are open source, which includes circuit board files, schematics and CAD file posted on GitHub.

To compliment the iCuffLinks, Adafruit is currently working on a necklace version. I can’t wait for that one!

Purchasing info here.
Image source.

“Designed for PRINCIP to aid disabled people, the bracelet comes built in with a USB connector and memory card to update the progress or condition of the patient. The device, as indicated by its name, can be worn around the wrist like a bracelet, which other than keeping check on the practice honesty of the user also becomes a fashionable accessory for the trendy.” Continue on Design Buzz.

Images from Design Buzz.

I’m not a huge fan of having too many accessories during my work out, but the idea of controlling the experience hands-free through simple gestures is very appealing.

More at beatnow.
Images from Beatnow.

“Instead of placing a single flexible thin film solar module onto the side of a bag, the designers of the DIFFUS Solar Handbag have distributed 100 smaller monocrystalline silicon solar cells over the surface of the bag to resemble oversized sequins. The surface of the bag is also embroidered with a combination of normal embroidery and conductive embroidery that transfers the energy harvested by the “solar sequins” to a lithium-ion battery hidden away within a small compartment.”

Continue reading on Gizmag.
Photos from Gizmag.