Tag Archives: wearable

This wearable smart ring detects cab driver’s alcohol levels to keep passengers safe from harm’s way

Posted on by

A smart ring capable of detecting drunk cab drivers, and keeping the passengers well informed in advance via a connected cab rental app for a safe journey home in odd hours.

Hopping into a cab with a drunk driver is not what someone would want to do – especially for women in the late hours. Ola and Uber have had their fair share of incidents where irresponsible cab drivers employed have been found driving drunk. In fact, a survey suggests that more than 50 percent of cab drivers confess to drunken driving, and also more than 60 percent reveal they consume drinks in their vehicles. Another startling fact is the number of people who get killed due to drunk driving behavior – it’s a mind-numbing 56 percent.

Keeping a track of drivers’ drinking habits is virtually impossible for car rental companies, or is it? With Cue smart wearable ring conceptualized by Risha Garg keeping real-time track of driver’s state is ultra-easy. The smart gadget can be worn like a ring, as it tracks the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels by tracking the sweat. A ring is an apt wearable to track sweat as palms and fingers have a large concentration of sweat glands. Also, it keeps a check on the pulse rate and temperature of the driver for tell-tale signs of not fit to drive conditions. All this is synced with the cab service provider’s app to keep the passengers informed of the driver’s BAC levels, and if the ride is actually safe for boarding.

In the event of a driver’s non-compliant BAC levels, the app automatically restricts the driver from accepting rides from anything as low as 90 minutes to even 24 hours. The Cue ring displays the real-time data of the driver’s condition indicated by the 0-100 BAC level indicator. Anything below 30 is permissible, while values above that indicate an unsafe drunken state. To make sure the ring is worn by the driver, GPS tracking keeps things in check. The wearable disconnects as soon as it is kept a few meters away from the driver’s phone. Risha’s solution to ensure a safe drive for passengers is well worth the development and exploring beyond the conceptual stage.

Designer: Risha Garg

 

Futuristic Wearables that are making waves in the tech world with their innovative + unique designs!

Posted on by

Wearable designs are currently in the limelight, and we thought it would be fun to explore some of the cool wearable designs in the market! Wearable designs make our lives easier and more efficient in multiple ways! From smartwatches, Fitbits to even wearable furniture, innovative wearable designs can be valuable additions to our daily lifestyles. And, not to mention sometimes they’re really fun to use and trendy to wear as well! And, this collection of wearable designs are not only super easy to wear on your person, but also promise to make your everyday life easier, simpler, and effortless! From a wearable 5K OLED display to a personal security wearable that uses voice recognition to keep you safe in emergencies – these futuristic product designs are the trending wearables of 2021!

Immersive experience

This is the world’s first personal cinema HMD that features dual 2.5K micro-OLED and a Dolby Digital® certified headphone with 5.1 channels of surround sound – it is the closest thing you can get to having your own movie theatre without buying multiple appliances or doing construction. The combination of those visual and audio elements is elite! It truly gives you a complete theatrical immersive experience with high-quality video and audio which makes the Cinera Edge a mobile cinema. It is not just for watching movies or your favorite shows, you can integrate it with your TV and gaming systems to take your everyday entertainment to the next level.

R RYZR is built for the crowded city streets as well as open freeways – that’s the USP of the concept. It has a central spine running the length of the chassis, and two seats are suspended on either side. The drive-by-wire assisted centrally-mounted steering wheel is designed to operate independently of its position. Meaning, both the driver and passenger can drive it from their sitting position by simply sliding it. The central spine gives the EV freedom to pivot on the front and rear arms – this makes leaning and carving through tight corners on the hubless wheels highly maneuverable.

The wearable medical gadget is still in the concept prototype stage but unlike other designs, this is created in complete synergy between the design team who give direction to the aesthetic requirements, and the technology team who ideate the concept. The end result, a functional gadget that solves the intended purpose while being aesthetically ideal for practical usage. Here it is, the accurate detection of blood oxygen levels of the skin tissue and underlying vessels and capillaries. The oxygen detector is designed for ASON Co. Ltd. and it is highly likely it will make it to the mass consumer market in a couple of years.

Romware’s bracelet helps to reinforce the social distancing guidelines as more of us return to work. The digital device monitors the employees’ location and warns them if they are too close to each other. Initially designed for industries such as construction, logistic, warehousing, manufacturing, and port services, this bracelet can be used by any large company that cannot function remotely and relies on labor. Whenever employees are closer than 6 feet they will feel a vibration that warns them. The bracelet has a geofencing feature that allows you to set a limit for how many employees can be in a specific area to ensure there are no large gatherings. One of its most effective features is that it enables contact tracing, so if someone does fall sick the employer can easily track anyone who may have been in contact and take necessary measures.

NASA isn’t selling these directly, but Jet Propulsion Laboratory has made the 3D-printed concept available as an open-source project so anyone can make this smart wearable for their own health and safety. It works on a simple mechanism – the necklace has a sensor that detects when the user lifts their hands towards their face and it will vibrate to warn them using power from a common button battery. This vibration is a reminder for the user to not touch their face and soon establishes the muscle memory required to turn this into a new behavioral pattern. All the necessary STL files, the list of the parts you’ll need, and the assembly instructions have been made freely available for anyone to make these. Apart from the 3D printer and having the knowledge of basic electrical DIY skills, all the components are easy to source and if you want to learn then YouTube is always there as a resource.

Kyle Hamm has intended to design Waveform, a wearable that lets you feel the deep bass in your chest, matching the audio frequency being beamed in your ears by the pair of headphones. Similar to that vibration in your chest while at a live music concert – this gadget adds the dimension of touch to the audio. Learning from some of the prototypes that want to achieve something similar, Kyle focused on the portability, ergonomics, and comfort of the Waveform. After digging deep about the design and the functionality Kyle determined that the vibration is best felt on the front and back of the chest. Thus came to life the blueprint and prototype of Waveform that’s inspired by the rhythmic movement of stone skips on the surface of the water. To ensure the vibration of the contoured gadget reaches the body, Waveform has spring-loaded arms to create tension with subtle pressure.

Once activated, EVE launches a 10-second alarm meant to discourage the attacker from continuing their assault and instantly calls the local police station, sending operators the location and live audio recordings of the attack. EVE follows a two-step activation process to launch the wristband’s emergency features. First, to unlock EVE and prepare it for activation, the user simply shakes their wrist repeatedly three to five times. Embedded inside the wristband, an accelerometer and gyroscope detect the shaking and rotation of the wrist, awakening the device and gearing it up for activation. Then, either by announcing previously recorded voice triggers or by placing pressure on the wristband’s sensors, the 110dB alarm sounds, and the police are called, sending live recordings of the assault to an emergency operator, along with the GPS location of the EVE user.

This watch conceptualized by Michael Szczególski of 2sympleks Design draws inspiration from the OnePlus Concept One phone that has an electrochromic glass (based on electronic CMF technology) for the camera module glass covering. While on first look it might seem like any other smartwatch, there’s one thing that makes it stand out from the crowd. When the camera app is activated, the glass magically turns transparent to reveal the sensors otherwise hidden from plain sight. The Concept One Watch employs this technology to blur the lines between a classic analog watch with kinetic movement and modern-day smartwatch functionality. The Android WearOS watch is a perfect hybrid capable of satisfying proponents of classic watches and ones who like the more modern approach of the connected ecosystem of smartwatches.

Acknowledging the mental stressors within the ICU, a team of designers created SOVA, an ICU medical aid device that tracks the patient’s health progress and allows the patient to communicate their needs by simply directing their eyes. Either before, during, or following their visit to the ICU, almost half of the patients who receive medical treatment experience some form of trauma or suffer from mental stressors that make it difficult to communicate their needs. SOVA is a medical device that tracks and registers early signs of physical or mental pain so that medical personnel within the ICU can provide the patient with proper treatment. While physical pain, insomnia, and anxiety are only a few of the stressors in the ICU, SOVA operates as a system to track these stressors for real-time support and treatment.

Mictic converts your hand movements into digital signals that trigger virtual instruments within the Mictic smartphone app. The two wearables sit on your wrists, and their individual movements help the app understand how your hands are moving. First, you need to pair your bands with your smartphone and select the drum instrument within the Mictic app. Now beat your hands around in the air and the app plays back drum sounds as if you were sitting in front of a real drum kit. Similarly, select the guitar instrument and shred away in the air and the Mictic app generates a killer solo. You don’t necessarily need to be authentic with your movements. Just dance away and Mictic uses them to create an abstract audio composition, allowing your dance to turn into something more meaningful.

HTC’s leaked Vive VR headset are honeyed goggles that give you a bug-eyed minion-like look!

Posted on by

Remember the HTC Project Proton concept VR headset shown off in early 2020 that looked like a mix of glasses and ski goggles? The Vive Flow VR headset is the evolution of that very concept and it is coming soon – in fact just a day away from official release at the “Go with the Flow” event set to happen on October 14.

Interestingly the internet is going crazy with the freshly leaked images of the insect eyes like HTC headset that gives off the futuristic vibe. The person in question is trusted leaker Evan Blass who has posted convincing images of HTC’s next-gen VR headset. The big question arises – will this HTC VR headset be able to compete with Oculus Quest 2? Evan has been posting a constant stream of tweets with photos of the said headset, building anticipation for the tech community. For neutral viewers, these images give a much better idea of how the Vive Flow VR headset will look like. It is not much different than the Project Proton concept headset in terms of the alienating presence.

From the images so far, it seems the headset will have a tethered connection to a tube-shaped device to power up the advanced processing of the gadget. There are no straps apparent in these leaked images which suggests HTC has finally found a way to ditch the strap design. How they have managed to balance the weight out will only be clear once the headset is out there for real. Also, the images are highly suggestive of a snap-on face cushion for comfort, adjustable lenses, immersive spatial audio and an active cooling system.

Talking of the possible use case scenarios, the headset will mostly be used for multimedia content consumption and gaming. According to rumors the VR headset will have a microchip less powerful than the Oculus Quest 2, but will come with six degrees of freedom tracking. There are no controllers in view so it is presumed the headset will not ship with one. This will be a major limitation if it wants to go head-butting against the Quest 2.

One of the images suggests the HTC Vive Flow VR headset will be up for pre-order starting October 15th, and shipments are promised in early November. Interestingly it will cost almost $200 more than the Quest 2, at a debut price tag of $499, so it better be good. For all that money you’ll also get seven free virtual reality content and carrying case.

Designer: HTC

 

Nothing smartwatch design with transparent sides of the dial has “Nothing” to hide!

Posted on by

A transparent dial smartwatch that exposes the innards from the casing’s sides is what I’ll take with both hands if Nothing adds one to their future line-up.

Carl Pei and his ideology have always inspired me to follow a very transparent approach in life. His separation from OnePlus into a refreshing phase of his next venture Nothing has made headlines for all the good reason – right from the initial phase to the debut of the first-ever product in the brand’s line-up. The Nothing ear (1) earbuds have brought new precedence in earphone design to the industry with zero compromises in audio quality or other features at a price that brings a smile to audiophiles’ faces.

So what will be the next exciting offering by Nothing? Will it be another audio product or something related to fitness and lifestyle? I’m betting on the latter and Gian Luigi Singh’s concept supports my belief. Quite understandably christened Wrist (1), the smartwatch envisioned by Gian follows in the footsteps of ear (1) earbuds. The wearable with a 38mm by 10mm case revolves around the philosophy of transparency in consumer products (and I love it), displaying the raw beauty of the complicated inner mechanism of the smartwatch.

This is reminiscent of some of the high-end skeletal watches or the niche transparent watches that expose the innards like the watch movement and other mechanical parts. So, unlike other contemporary smartwatches on the market, the Wrist (1) will expose internal components by using a crystal clear transparent case, displaying the raw beauty of the precise engineering of what makes the wearable tick from the sides. To keep up with the competition, Nothing will inculcate health and fitness-centric features such as a heart rate monitor and step counter. This is courtesy of the LED and photodiodes that work in tandem with the AI algorithms for the most accurate measurements.

Of course, the smartwatch will get water-resistant aesthetics to keep clear of water splashes or rain. The watch will be powered by Google’s Wear OS to make all the Google services run smoothly for an unparalleled user experience. Keeping in tune with the brand’s ecosystem, the Wrist (1) smartwatch will seamlessly pair with the Nothing ear (1) earbuds to keep a check on the battery and audio levels or customize the gesture controls.

If Car Pie and his team are watching this concept, they’d want to bring this to life for sure. Who knows, they might already be working on something similar or planning one for the future? Any which way, a transparent smartwatch by Nothing has got my huge thumbs up, already!

Designer: Gian Luigi Singh

This wearable gadget measures skin oxygen levels to detect and diagnose early signs of illness

Posted on by

An aesthetically designed medical gadget to detect all the problems that prop up from the dysfunction of underlying skin tissues and capillaries which can be problematic in the long run.

Detecting the first signs of ailment is a determinant in the future treatment and the overall health of an individual. For people with some kind of disease related to peripheral capillaries like peripheral arterial disease (PAD), it becomes even more important to take proactive action once it is identified. Designer Deokhee Jeong has come up with a wearable medical gadget to help patients suffering from this problem to keep a close tab on the earliest signs. This is done by measuring the skin oxygen levels accurately courtesy of the wearable patch Deokhee calls the Transcutaneous Oxygen Sensor.

The wearable medical gadget is still in the concept prototype stage but unlike other designs, this is created in complete synergy between the design team who give direction to the aesthetic requirements and the technology team who ideate the concept. The end result, a functional gadget that solves the intended purpose while being aesthetically ideal for practical usage. Here it is, the accurate detection of blood oxygen levels of the skin tissue and underlying vessels and capillaries. The oxygen detector is designed for ASON Co. Ltd. and it is highly likely it will make it to the mass consumer market in a couple of years.

Transcutaneous Oxygen Sensor uses luminescent gas sensing and soft electronics technology to make the readings. It is far more superior to the SPO2 sensor and much simpler than some of the methods used to detect the disease by medical professionals. Things like Pulse volume recording (PVR) waveform analysis, Photoplethysmography (PPG), Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) or Doppler ultrasound flow studies.

The design team and the techie minds come together to blur out all the hassle of these methods and consolidate them inside this compact medical gadget that’s wearable. The patient has to simply stick it onto the back of the hand and the wrist area to do the test. When everything is done, simply put it in the pocket or the closet for next time use. It is that compact!

Designer: Deokhee Jeong

This air purifying bike helmet adds a layer of security and safety we need while commuting!

Posted on by

A smart helmet designed for ergonomic comfort of the rider, and most of all, to ensure fresh air flow when riding through highly air polluted sections of the city.

Air pollution has become a serious health hazard in the last decade, and the problem seems to be only getting worse with over 1.4 billion vehicles on roads worldwide. This value is estimated to hit 2 billion by the year 2035. According to WHO, 90 percent of the world’s population is exposed to highly toxic air pollutants, resulting in over a million fatalities every year. This is exaggerated by the fact that physical activity is simply not there to counter the adverse effects of air pollution, and in fact, this alone contributes to 3.2 million fatalities annually. Of all the motorists on the streets, cyclists are at the most risk as they are exposed to air pollutants.

So how can cyclists be protected against inhalation of dangerous traffic fumes? Nathan Hassanali has the answer in the form of a hybrid helmet mask wearable. Christened Airban, the urban bike helmet aims to take on the unavoidable air pollution crisis. The advanced helmet sucks polluted air, filters it, and then beams pure air onto the fixed face shield that’s at a slight distance from the face. As the rider keeps moving forward, the air passes through the front vents on the front and enters the air channel. Simultaneously air is drawn from the rear via a small brushless fan that projects the air to the breathable position. Air entering the Airban helmet from both these channels is filtered through the HEPA filter which removes 99.97% of 0.3 μm particulates. The activated carbon layer eliminates any smoke, odors, or other pollutants – therefore, beaming the rider with clean air even in the most polluted environment.

The lightweight bike helmet frame is tailored for comfort with the head adjustment system and cushion padding. So you might ask, what drives this system? Well, there are rechargeable batteries on the rear, or the user can opt for a magnetically connected cable that pairs with a portable battery pack the size of a water bottle. So, bulk is not going to be an issue for the practicality of use. The user can holster it to the bike frame or put it under the saddle.

To give the helmet smart characteristics, it can be paired to the phone via an app. This helps detect the changes in speed and increases or decreases the airflow. For example, at the crossroads, the high exposure to air pollution will be negated by better filtering. On the other hand, on open stretches at high speeds, the fresh air flow is reduced through the fan vent. The GPS will also assist in determining the fan’s rpm for a constant flow of pure air.

Designer: Nathan Hassanali

Xiaomi just announced its Augmented Reality Smart Glasses… and the timing couldn’t be more interesting!

Posted on by




Doesn’t it strike you as odd that Xiaomi would randomly drop such a massive product teaser just a day before Apple’s September event? And hold their own even a day AFTER Apple announced the new iPhone? I’m not an expert analyst, but it seems like they’re trying to beat Apple to the punch, given that a lot of people are expecting Apple to launch their own smart glasses soon. The announcement a day before and the event a day after Apple’s California Streaming event is just Xiaomi’s way of rolling its sleeves up and trying to grab the news cycle by its horns before Apple floods the internet. Moreover, the Smart Glasses also end up firing shots at Facebook, who just announced their own camera-enabled wayfarers with RayBan. Gossip and speculation aside, here’s what the Xiaomi Smart Glasses are all about.

Designed to look like a regular pair of eyewear, Xiaomi’s Smart Glasses actually come with a holographic display built into them. The tiny MicroLED display (which Xiaomi says is smaller than a grain of rice) is built into the temple stem, and reflects a simple UI onto the right eyepiece of the glasses. The specially crafted eyepiece uses a series of microscopic “optical waveguides” to project the display into your eye, allowing only you to see the augmented reality elements when you wear the glasses.

The Smart Glasses come with a rather bare-basics interface, although it’s still incredibly advanced for its time (not to mention the fact that Xiaomi managed to fit all this technology into a ridiculously slim piece of eyewear). The holographic display can display messages, alerts, notifications, and time, although Xiaomi’s most impressive flex was showcasing a live translate feature, that took an English food menu and overlaid the Chinese translations on top of it. Aside from the MicroLED holographic display, the Smart Glasses also come with a camera lens that captures the world around you, allowing you to not just take pictures, but also analyze images and text. Whether all that live translation and processing power happens within the spectacles themselves is yet to be determined, although we can expect much more information on the 15th, when Xiaomi holds its product event.

For now, the Smart Glasses are just a concept teaser with no price, no tech specs, and no foreseeable launch date.

The Top 10 Wearables designed to be the emerging + inspirational tech trends of 2021!

Posted on by

Wearable designs are currently in the limelight, with the Apple Watch Series 7 making the rounds almost everywhere. Everyone’s counting down the days until its release, and we thought it would be fun to explore some of the other cool wearable designs in the market! Wearable designs make our lives easier and more efficient in multiple ways! From smartwatches, Fitbits to even wearable furniture, innovative wearable designs can be valuable additions to our daily lifestyles. And, not to mention sometimes they’re really fun to use and trendy to wear as well! And, this collection of wearable designs are not only super easy to wear on your person, but also promise to make your everyday life easier, simpler, and effortless! From a wearable mouse ring designed to work at the tap of your fingers to a wearable assistive device designed to help stroke patients relearn muscle movements – these designs truly are the emerging tech trends of 2021!

This wearable fitness tracker-looking ring is actually a mouse designed to be as lightweight as possible so there isn’t excess load on your joints. Usually, users experience the inconvenience of wrist pain, stiff fingers, or aching finger joints when using the traditional mouse. The weight and shape of the mouse initially don’t seem worth investing in for the user till these issues arise and that is what the designer wanted to address through the ring mouse. The PC market continues to grow and it means the need for an ergonomic lightweight mouse like this ring exists stronger than before as people take more notice of their health and well-being. The ring mouse’s design works intuitively, it reacts to the movements of the fingertips and does not interfere with the natural movement of the wrist since it is a wearable ring. Due to its unique shape for a mouse, it makes the experience smoother while reducing the stress on your wrists as it won’t be awkwardly bent at an angle for hours!

This OnePlus Concept One Watch could be the right direction for the brand to foray, if they want to dethrone the best ones like Apple Watch Series 6, Galaxy Watch 3, or Fitbit Sense. While on first look it might seem like any other smartwatch, there’s one thing that makes it stand out from the crowd. When the camera app is activated, the glass magically turns transparent to reveal the sensors otherwise hidden from plain sight. The Concept One Watch employs this technology to blur the lines between a classic analog watch with kinetic movement and modern-day smartwatch functionality. The Android WearOS watch is a perfect hybrid capable of satisfying proponents of classic watches and ones who like the more modern approach of the connected ecosystem of smartwatches.

Rehap from Ka Man Choi is a wearable rehabilitative tool designed to aid stroke survivors in relearning basic muscle movements even in the comfort of their own homes. Choi integrated physical therapeutic exercises in Rehap like mirror movements and joint exercises to help stimulate the muscle memory of stroke patients. Stroke survivors wear Rehap as a sleeve or glove and configure the product’s modular gears with rubber bands to meet their level of recovery. Conceived to make rehabilitation more accessible, Rehap is also a less costly recovery option for stroke patients.

The Sentien Audio is probably one of the world’s first smart open-ear headsets. Relying on bone-conducting technology, the headset really doesn’t sit in your ear… instead, it rests on your sideburns, sending music directly into your inner ear by relaying audio vibrations to your temporal bone. The result is an audio experience that feels like sounds “are playing inside your mind”, according to one reviewer. The obvious benefit is that you don’t have to place physical earphones inside your ear and block out external sounds. Moreover, prolonged listening won’t cause any ear fatigue or eardrum damage, since the audio bypasses your eardrum and travels directly into your inner ear! In some instances, bone conducting technology even allows people with certain hearing disabilities to hear again. It’s sort of like having a brain implant that plays audio directly inside your brain…

Mathilde Blondel, a student of France’s Université de Technologie de Compiègne created EVE, personal security and anti-aggression bracelet, after experiencing an assault on the streets of France. Once activated, EVE launches a 10-second alarm meant to discourage the attacker from continuing their assault and instantly calls the local police station, sending operators the location and live audio recordings of the attack. EVE follows a two-step activation process to launch the wristband’s emergency features. First, to unlock EVE and prepare it for activation, the user simply shakes their wrist repeatedly three to five times. Embedded inside the wristband, an accelerometer and gyroscope detect the shaking and rotation of the wrist, awakening the device and gearing it up for activation. Then, either by announcing previously recorded voice triggers or by placing pressure on the wristband’s sensors, the 110dB alarm sounds, and the police are called, sending live recordings of the assault to an emergency operator, along with the GPS location of the EVE user.

If you’ve ever come across a Tubulum, you know how cool it sounds, and the way it is made is nothing short of imaginative! Made out of a collection of tubes or PVC pipes, the DIY musical instrument’s sound is determined by the length of each pipe. So how could a Tubulum be bettered to look even more badass? It could take the shape of an OCTAV – a musical instrument that can be worn like a harness and give us those cool Dr. Otto Octavious vibes! Designed by Asaf Wainberg, the one-off musical instrument is purely out of the realms of cool DIY stuff that you can’t give a miss. Like the Tubulum, the OCTAV is made out of PVC pipes leading to six pads (like drums) that create sound. The principle here is that the sound generated by tapping on the pads depends on the length and circumference of the pipes attached to it. And the whole thing is fixed onto a harness so you can move around with it.

Industrial designer SangWoon Kim has reimagined the traditional waist support belt as a smart wearable to protect the lumbar spine better. Basically, it functions like any standard belt to compress the waist and isolate our breathing patterns. The striking difference is the ability to tighten the belt automatically, depending on the intensity of the workout and the user’s breathing pattern. Kim calls it the BIND.CO belt and this workout accessory come in handy for any exercise mode and intensity. The innovation will be godsent for beginners who are still learning about the exact tightening of the belt needed for their workout. Thanks to the embedded sensors, the smart belt tightens during exercise and loosens at the time of rest between activities.

LG is another big name that forayed into developing a high-tech face mask last year and has been improving the design and function of the beta model ever since. Now they’ve announced the latest version of the PuriCare Wearable Air Purifier (that’s an odd naming convention) that had three fans and a couple of HEPTA filters to keep most pathogens out. The new face mask has a smaller and lighter motor and built-in microphones and speakers. The latter helps in automatically amplifying the wearer’s voice when talking, courtesy of the VoiceON technology. For that matter, the techno Razer Project Hazel face mask has a similar tech to make communication easier. The improvements on the LG PuriCare don’t stop there as it weighs just 94 grams now and has a 1,000mAh battery with a recharge time of two hours.

The Tool Ring is a nifty EDC that you slip onto your fingers, and instantly gain all sorts of superpowers – from opening bottles to tightening screws, and even signing documents! Built from Titanium, you can fit a whole set of hex-bits into the Tool Ring (they come along with it). These hex-bits include a Philips-head screwdriver, a ballpoint pen, a box-cutter, and a flashlight. Three hexagonal slots in the ring allow you to slide the various hex-bits into it, enabling you to use the instrument of your choice! The top slot offers the most functionality, allowing you to do things like twist screws, point the flashlight, or even cut open boxes with a fair deal of dexterity. The Tool Ring is an amazing piece of EDC, incorporated into the form of jewelry, allowing you to utilize a variety of tools, without having to handle the actual instruments. How cool is that?

This thin Band-Aid-like energy harvester developed by the team of engineers at the University of California, San Diego, could be the answer to powering our gadgets in the future. Of course, there are other similar prototype wearables we’ve seen in the past, including some by the UC San Diego team itself, but this one is different. The thin, flexible strip worn on the finger can generate energy when you are sleeping or simply doing nothing since the sweat from your body powers it. As the fingertips produce exponentially more sweat than any other body part, they are virtually an abundant source to put to good use. The strip has carbon foam electrodes that absorb the sweat, and a chemical reaction is initiated between the lactate and oxygen molecules. The result is electricity generation that’s stored in capacitors to power our modern power-hungry wearables.

This wearable assistive device designed to help stroke patients relearn muscle movements is modular and adaptable!

Posted on by

Rehap is a wearable, assistive device designed for stroke survivors to exercise mirror movements, and joint exercises during the recovery process and relearning of basic muscle movements.

Rehabilitative and assistive product designs have made some progress in terms of functionality and accessibility in recent years, but the current need for at-home rehabilitative designs cannot be understated. While physical therapy is recommended for anyone who’d like to restore their natural mobility, stroke patients in particular benefit from a tailored rehabilitative program. Rehap from Ka Man Choi is a wearable rehabilitative tool designed to aid stroke survivors in relearning basic muscle movements even in the comfort of their own homes.

During the research period for Rehap, Choi learned that around 1 in 3 stroke survivors experience varying levels of emotional stress following their stroke. During the recovery period, rehabilitative tools and assistive devices help stroke survivors train the affected limb and their own muscle memory to prevent stiffness and maintain circulation.

Choi integrated physical therapeutic exercises in Rehap like mirror movements and joint exercises to help stimulate the muscle memory of stroke patients. Stroke survivors wear Rehap as a sleeve or glove and configure the product’s modular gears with rubber bands to meet their level of recovery. Conceived to make rehabilitation more accessible, Rehap is also a less costly recovery option for stroke patients.

Developed out of a single material for simple production and recyclability, Rehap is a motorless, modular solution that’s easy to reproduce and intuitive by design. Accessible for stroke patients at all levels of recovery, Rehap comes with interchangeable gears that can be swapped out to adapt to three different rehabilitative levels. The needs and progress of the patients change over time and Choi designed Rehap to meet patients where they are in their recovery process.

Designer: Ka Man Choi

Choi designed Rehap to be a sustainable and accessible solution for stroke patients to relearn basic muscle movements. 

Following an involved research period, Choi optimized the design to be adjustable and universal.

“Unlike most of the existing rehabilitation and assistive tools, without any electronics and screws, the single prints of REHAP are easier for recycling the PLA.”

“After research on the target user – stroke patients and discussion with the expert in assistive technologies, I decided to design a rehabilitation tool attached to the human body inspired by the exoskeleton and body coordination.”

This new AirPods Pro case takes on a barrel shape to fit in pockets with your other EDC items!

Posted on by

Antón visualized an AirPods Pro case concept that holds each AirPods Pro in vertical placement, swapping out a rectangular build for a barrel-shaped case.

The new case for AirPods Pros is even wider than the previous generation of AirPods. Wedging that case into your pocket between your keys, wallet, and other EDC items is uncomfortable and makes our pockets too bulky. Iván Antón, a product and graphic designer based in Madrid, recently visualized an AirPods Pro Case concept that gives the case a vertical edge, ditching a wide body for a slim, barrel-shaped one.

The current case for AirPods Pro is about 20mm wider than the AirPods case, a substantial difference that requires a lot more room in our back pockets.  In contrast to the bulkier, horizontal AirPods Pro case, Antón’s concept case would fit nicely into any pocket even if it’s already stuffed with your house keys, wallet, and whatever else. Individual charging lights emanate from both ends of the cylindrical case to accurately indicate how much battery juice each AirPod has. Antón also visualized the AirPods Pro case in a matte black, a shade that we’ve yet to see Apple experiment with on charging cases for AirPods and AirPod Pros.

EDC items like house keys, wallets, lighters, and multi-tools fill our pockets daily. Finding the space to carry our charging cases for AirPods can get difficult considering the little room we do have. 3D visualizer and product designer Iván Antón created an AirPods Pro case that swaps out a bulky, rectangular build for a cylindrical one that can easily slide into the fullest of back pockets.

Designer: Iván Antón