Wearable Technology

IDTechEx caught up with Mark Williamson from Stretchsense at AWE 2017 in Santa Clara, USA.

IDTechEx met with the founders of Biointeractive Technologies (BIT) at AWE 2017. They are a Canadian start-up who have developed a wrist-worn sensing device based on force myography (FMR) in a wristband.

As summer rolls in for the northern hemisphere, pet owners are no doubt looking forward to spending more time in the great outdoors with their four-legged friends. However, issues arise from being out in the open, whether it is overexertion, heat stroke, or pets running away and getting lost. Fortunately, there are several wearable devices for animals on the market today, most commonly to be worn on the pet's collar, to address these concerns.

IDTechEx was at the annual Display Week in Los Angeles to report on the latest trends in displays.

A team of researchers has designed a breathable workout suit with ventilating flaps that open and close in response to an athlete's body heat and sweat. These flaps, which range from thumbnail- to finger-sized, are lined with live microbial cells that shrink and expand in response to changes in humidity.

Flat, scale-like load sensors are placed within the boot insole to measure the user's weight during activities such as standing, walking and running.

Can tattoos embrace technology in order to make the skin interactive?

Engineers are using soft robotics technology to make light, flexible gloves that allow users to feel tactile feedback when they interact with virtual reality environments.

On May 24-25th 2017, James Hayward from IDTechEx attended CPES 2017. The event brought together an excellent group of both Canadian and international speakers to discuss several key areas in the printed and flexible electronics space. This article will address each area in turn, including smart packaging, IoT, structural and 3D electronics and textile/wearable electronics.

Air New Zealand has been working with information technology service provider Dimension Data on unique software for Microsoft's augmented reality viewer HoloLens that could support cabin crew as they carry out their inflight duties by aggregating and displaying key customer information directly in front of them.

A lightweight, comfortable jacket that can generate the power to light up a jogger at night may sound futuristic, but materials scientists could make one today.

The scanner can be "worn" like a helmet, allowing research subjects to stand and make movements as the device scans.

Researchers are placing ultra-thin, electronic tattoos on distinctive body locations. The user can touch, squeeze or pull them, and thereby intuitively control mobile devices such as a music player, or easily make indicators light up.

Nanoengineers have developed the first printed battery that is flexible, stretchable and rechargeable. The zinc batteries could be used to power everything from wearable sensors to solar cells and other kinds of electronics.

Researchers have developed new technology which uses the way a person walks, their gait, to power wearable devices. The technology also has the potential to be used as a new authentication method, which could replace passwords, pins or fingerprints.

May 10th-11th saw the 2017 European-leg of the IDTechEx Show! In this article IDTechEx analysts share some of the most interesting innovations on offer at the show.

Augmented and virtual reality headsets are by now a reality (pun intended), and they bring about a paradigm shift in form factor for portable electronics.

IDTechEx interviewed Jeff Gabbay at the IDTechEx Show in Berlin. They were presenting their latest advances involving the use of ultrasonic treatment to impregnate cotton with various materials to add functionality.

IDTechEx are hosting a free webinar on Thursday 1 June 2017.

Researchers behind Shield-X Technology have developed a new product that can be worn under virtually any helmet to significantly enhance its performance.