The world of wearables is becoming an increasingly popular way for makers to express their creativity. From custom watches and connected jewelry to full-body suits that allow you to interact with your environment, the possibilities are endless. Learning about wearable electronics can be a bit daunting for those who are just starting out – but it doesn’t have to be! Whether you’re looking for guidance on where to get started with Arduino programming or inspiration from some of the projects out there, this blog category has got you covered. Here we will provide tutorials and resources on creating interactive wearables as well as a look at the work of some inspiring makers that should give you the motivation to dive right in!
Ryan Palser, whose replica AER-9 laser rifle we covered a couple of weeks ago, has since finished up his second Fallout 3 replica, of the game’s A3-21 plasma rifle, that is, as I predicted, even more impressive than his first. The Flickr set includes some good build shots too, including some details of his casting process. [Thanks, Ryan!]
A clever tool for quickly making a perfectly neat T-shirt fold, made from scrap cardboard and tape by French clothier All-Tribe. Rewind for build instructions and dimensions.
Via Gadget Lab: Martin Magnusson of Linköping, Sweden, created this excellent wearable computer. It consists of the foliowing components: a pair of Myvu Crystal video glasses hacked into a monocular head-mounted display, the Beagleboard single-board computer running Angstrom Linux, a Plexgear mini USB hub driving a bluetooth adapter and powering the Beagleboard and the display, […]
Jonathan Johns, a coworker of ours over at O’Reilly Media and a frequent volunteer at Maker events, sent us a great little maker story that we think everyone will enjoy. My son, Christian, and his two roommates were on spring break in Arizona. As they were climbing up and around the hills, Christian’s cargo shorts […]
My significant other was recently given one of these Woodbaby shoulder puppets by a friend of hers who frequents renaissance faires, where the Woodbaby is a popular commodity. The puppet features a strong magnet in its base that mates with a curved metal “shoulder plate” that goes under your clothing and keeps the figure firmly perched on your shoulder. The mechanical control cable (which, per this thread discussing a DIY version, are R/C airplane control surface push-rods) runs to a simple controller that can be concealed in a pocket and manipulated to make the figure turn its head and look around in a surprisingly life-like manner. More elaborate versions have additional controls like wings and blinking, light-up eyes. Flickr user JeffreyWiden made his own. Would be cool to see an electronic version with a wireless control fob.
Hannah Perner-Wilson and her colleagues in the High-Low Tech group at MIT have been experimenting with circuit board etching of copper fabric using only salt and vinegar! Vaseline is used as the resist. More: Craft Meets Tech at MIT
http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=11496831&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1 Adi Marom’s Short++ project put iPhone controlled robotic platform shoes on your feet, for when you need to be a few inches taller. [via core77]
