Our editors have compiled a list of five gadgets that you can actually wear, in addition to being shiny toys. If we happened to miss any, please leave us a comment. “Continue reading” for the entire list.
Honorable Mention – Egokast’s Video Belt Buckle
Here’s a first: “a [Samsung] 3-inch screen mounted on a stainless steel case that can attach to any standard belt”. Keep your friends entertained by loading an SD memory card (2GB max.) with your favorite videos/movies — plug and play. Supported formats include, MP4, MP3, MPG, AVI, and JPG. Unfortunately, the buckle alone will set you back a hefty $279. Product information here.
download egovideos, mix up our video fragments, make your own content, rip dvd’s and play remixes, download clips, transfer Flash files, everything moving is raw material. load a directory of photographs and display for your choice of duration, will cycle all night long
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5. Levi’s RedWire DLX iPod Jeans
Levi’s new RedWire DLX iPod jeans feature an integrated iPod dock, headphones, and a special accessory kit.
The jean is designed to be compatible with most iPod systems and features include a special joystick incorporated into the jeans’ watch pocket to enable easy operation of the iPod
4. PowerRisers
Similar to the rocket boots we previously covered, PowerRisers “allow you to jump 6 feet in the air and make 9-foot strides.”
…the jumping stilts have curved legs that will launch you at dangerous speeds in whatever direction you point yourself in. The stilts are a bit pricey at around $380
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3. Philips Lumalive
Lumalive textiles by Philips feature “flexible arrays of colored light-emitting diodes (LEDs) fully integrated into the fabric – without compromising the softness or flexibility of the cloth.”
The electronics, batteries and LED arrays are fully integrated and invisible to the observer and wearer. The jackets feature panels of up to 200 by 200 mm²
2. ESG’s Flying Wings
This device “enables parachutists to fly through the air at high speed before opening their chutes”. ESG is planning on adding small turbo jets to even furthur increase the range (shown on left). [Source]
1. Wearable Robot Suit
Researchers at Japan’s Tsukuba University have developed a Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) that allows anyone who wears it, the “potential to lift up to 10-times the weight they normally could.” It basically works by “figuring out what the wearer’s muscle are doing.”
“It depends on his original power, because this robot suit is controlled by the assist ratio,” says Yoshiyuki Sankai of Tsukuba University. “Usually we set it at 50% or 60% or 70%. If he is a very weak person we set the assist ratio at 90%, so at that time you say 10 times.”
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