Featured Blog Posts – May 2010 Archive (23)

Crocheted Stretch Sensor Tutorial

Lovely tutorial by Lara Grant on how to crochet a stretch sensor using yarn, conductive thread and elastic.

Hope this inspires you to make something this… Continue

Added by Syuzi on May 31, 2010 at 8:00pm — 1 Comment

Hi-tech Glamour Illuminates the Stage

Safura—LED Dress by Cute Circuit

Cute Circuit has designed yet another illuminated dress for European pop star Safura. Embellished with a an underlay of light, this particular haute-tech frock is rather elegant and creates a beautifully draped silhouette.

Safura—LED Dress by Cute Circuit

Curious if this trend for illuminated gowns will continue and be embraced by pop-divas worldwide.…

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Added by Syuzi on May 30, 2010 at 8:30pm — 1 Comment

Costume Designer Vinilla Burnham @ V&A Museum

Costume Designer Vinilla Burnham, whose most recent work includes the design of Lady Gaga's kinetic dress, is giving a talk at the Victoria and Albert Museum Monday 7 June, 19.00–20.45.

Vinilla will discuss the creative processes of designing… Continue

Added by Syuzi on May 27, 2010 at 10:30am — No Comments

Hollywood and Wearable Technology

Wearable Tech in the Movies

I've been watching a lot of sci-fi films lately. Last night I watched THX 1138 —George Lucas' first movie— for the the first time. Watching these futuristic films inspired me to write a post on how Hollywood visualizes wearable technologies and what we will be wearing in the near future. All the typical tropes — from wired headgear to large computers strapped like tumors to the body — are in play.

I've gathered a few movie stills from… Continue

Added by Syuzi on May 26, 2010 at 11:00am — No Comments

New Conductive Thread

Conductive Thread

I recently purchased a 2lb spool of the 235/34 2 ply HC Conductive Silver Thread from Shieldex for my workshops this summer and to make the Salt n' Peanut Soft Circuit kits.

I have a handful of extra spools of thread that I'm offering for sale for $13 via Sof-circuit.com. If you're interested in… Continue

Added by Syuzi on May 25, 2010 at 11:25am — No Comments

Electromode—Wearable Tech Fashion Kits

Wearable Tech Fashion Kits

I absolutely love the idea of DIY fashion kits — especially when they involve wearable technology. They are a sustainable means of production that involve and engage the creativity of the end-consumer.

I first learned about Valérie Lamontagne's DIY fashion kits at V2. I am so excited to see the final… Continue

Added by Syuzi on May 24, 2010 at 1:00pm — 1 Comment

Salt n' Peanut Soft Circuit Kit

I wanted to introduce you to Salt n' Peanut — a soft circuit kit that I developed for the Maker Faire this year.

Salt n' Peanut are a mother and baby elepahnt duo that love to be in constant contact. When the trunk of Salt (the mother elephant) and the trunk of Peanut (the baby elephant) connect, the LED in Peanut’s chest illuminates, signifying love and joy. :-)…

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Added by Syuzi on May 21, 2010 at 12:30pm — No Comments

Book Release: Metamorphosis

Metamorphosis

I'm thrilled to announce the release of a new book Metamorphosis by Stoffel Kuenen and Elisabetta Cianfanelli, from the University of Florence, Department of Industrial Design and Fashion Design.

As the the book's title insinuates, Metamorphosis is about the transformation of the consumer goods industry— specifically the fashion industry— and its relationship with consumers.

The book uses the italian fashion industry as a case… Continue

Added by Syuzi on May 20, 2010 at 12:30pm — 1 Comment

Exhibition Pretty Smart Textiles

Exhibition 31 May 2010 - 24 June 2010 11:00-16:00

Location: Nutshuis Riviervismarkt 5 Den Haag

Free Entry

If you're in the Netherlands be sure not to miss the exhibition Pretty Smart Textiles, opening the 27th of May in the Nutshuis in the Hague. The exhibition brings together for the first time e-textiles made by young artists and designers in the… Continue

Added by Melissa Coleman on May 18, 2010 at 11:30am — 3 Comments

Maker Faire: Wearable Tech Roundup

I can't believe its already that time of year again! The Maker Faire is just around the corner. I've gathered a collection of must-see events related to wearable technology and soft circuits. If you're going to be there, please give me a shout and hopefully we'll get a change to meet up in person.

For those of you who can't make it, I'll be covering the Maker Faire events the… Continue

Added by Syuzi on May 17, 2010 at 3:00pm — 2 Comments

Wearables lecture and presentation in Eindhoven

On the 19th of May the CBK's Digital Workspace in Den Bosch will present works made during their Saturday wearables workshop. If you're in the Netherlands, this is your chance to see Joanna Berzowska from XS Labs. She will give a lecture describing the current landscape of wearables and talk about her own work. Anja Hertenberger,… Continue

Added by Melissa Coleman on May 16, 2010 at 11:00am — No Comments

Human Synthesizer — Skin as Input

Using the skin as an input device, Tony Olsson transforms flesh into a keyboard to create sound art.

The project uses the arduino for computation and skin as an input medium for the performance. There is something just a little eerie about this. Who needs electornic textiles when the surface of our own bodies can be transformed into an activation… Continue

Added by Syuzi on May 13, 2010 at 11:15am — No Comments

Rihanna Lights up the Stage...again

Rihanna Illuminated Dress

Wow LEDs really are THE new sequin as performers and celebs wrap themselves in light.

Following on the heels of Katy Perry's debut of Cute Circuit's illuminated gown, Rihanna upstages Perry with an LED dress capable of displaying video.

Rihanna Illuminated Dress

The technology for Rihanna's illuminated jacket and dress was… Continue

Added by Syuzi on May 11, 2010 at 7:30pm — No Comments

Wearables for Self-Defense

The Kinetic Defense Handbag, created by CooperJay Kim, is designed as an alerting system of sorts that protects the wearer from potential thugs.

Wearables for Self-Defense

The wooden structure of the bag appears to be more of a weapon than the the zip tie "teeth" but I enjoy the animation of the bag itself.…

Electric Jacket

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Added by Syuzi on May 11, 2010 at 11:00am — No Comments

Eco-Friendly Wedding Dress Dissolves in Water

British researchers have developed an environmentally friendly garment that can simply be dissolved in water after being worn. Fashion and engineering students at Sheffield Hallam University developed the wedding dress, which can be transformed into five new fashion pieces.

The dress has polyvinyl alcohol, a biodegradable substance that is used in laundry bags and washing detergents, knitted into the fabric. This enables to be dissolved into… Continue

Added by Melissa Marie on May 10, 2010 at 5:42pm — 1 Comment

Touch_Me Interactive Carpet

Touch_Me is an interactive carpet developed by Juliette Sallin that animates when it senses the presence of a person. Using shape memory wires and pressure sensors, the carpet — which resembles a bed of sprouts or mushrooms— moves when it detects any pressure.

I'd love to actually see a video of the movement and motion. Regardless of the embedded electronics, the design of the… Continue

Added by Syuzi on May 10, 2010 at 11:00am — 2 Comments

DIY Thin Flexible PCBs

I love discovering new materials especially anything closely useful for creating soft circuits. Meredith Scheff made these awesome thin, flexible PCB boards using DuPont's Pyralux Copper Clad Laminate.

DIY Thin Flexible PCBs

The material is thin enough… Continue

Added by Syuzi on May 6, 2010 at 1:00pm — 5 Comments

Laser Suit

The theme this week is apparently performance wear enhanced with special lighting effects. Today's featured wearable is an amazing stage costume made and designed by Wei-Chieh Shih.

Laser Suit

The nylon suit is embedded with 200 laser diodes, transforming the performer into a mobile light show.…

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Added by Syuzi on May 5, 2010 at 12:00pm — No Comments

Katy Perry wears Illuminated Dress By Cute Circuit

Katy Perry Illuminated Dress

Whoa! 2010 must be the year for wearable tech as performers and fashion designers alike flock like moths to the lure of the almighty LED!

Katy Perry walked down the red carpet all aglow last night at the Costume Institute Gala Benefit at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The LED dress was designed by Cute Circuit, developers of the Galaxy… Continue

Added by Syuzi on May 4, 2010 at 1:00pm — No Comments

Worklab: Interactive textiles and how textiles visualise the environment and power my mobile.

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Worklab: Interactive textiles and how textiles visualise the environment and power my mobile.

June 1 - 4, Atelier Nord, Oslo by Diffus.dk

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In addition to the project group of invited textile and media artists, there are three spaces available for other participants. Experience with e-textiles or programming is required

Please apply by using the form at www.ateliernord.no.

Application deadline: 15 May… Continue

Added by Hillevi on May 4, 2010 at 4:33am — No Comments