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Fitness Tracking Socks Help You Run Better

January 14, 2015

Sensoria Smart Socks

We have smart-shirts, smart-glasses, smart-earbuds, and smartwatches, so why not smart-socks. Originally an Indiegogo campaign, Sensoria’s smart-socks are designed to not only track pace, distance, and calories when you run but also your cadence, how your foot strikes the ground, and how long it is in contact with the ground. According to Sensoria, this type of monitoring helps protect runners shins, knees, and feet. The companion app uses your phone’s GPS to follow your run while tracking the information from the socks. A “virtual coach” provides audio feedback about your running style as you push through the miles to help keep your body safe from injury. The socks have an odd looking interface near the cuff that allows a small, flexible bluetooth transmitter with integrated accelerometer to be magnetically attached. This >1oz device pairs with the companion app (iOS, Android, Windows Phone) to provide realtime information. The starter pack, which includes one pair of socks and one pair of transmitters, costs $199. Each sock is rated for 60 washes and can be purchased as a set of 2 for $49. Head past the break for a video: 

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by Doug Parker
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Hexoskin Junior
Clothing

Hexoskin Launches Shirt For Kids

January 6, 2015

Hexoskin JuniorFor the obsessive parent, or overachieving youth, Hexoskin has announced the launch of a junior sized version of their activity monitoring shirt. If you have a child that demands to know what their VO2 Max is, then this is the device for you (look how happy the kid in the press photo looks). Just like the adult version, the Hexoskin Junior monitors heart rate variability, heart rate recovery, breathing volume, and breathing rate in addition to steps, calories, and sleep. The shirt has wires integrated into the fabric that monitor your vital information and relay it to a small box on the shirt. The box can either store the information for later or stream it via Bluetooth 4.0 to your mobile device. Hexoskin Junior is on sale. You can purchase it as a starter kit for $379 that includes everything you need or if you already have a Hexoskin “box” you can purchase the shirt for $149.

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by Doug Parker
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Clothing

Bionic Bra Adjusts Fit For Any Activity

December 10, 2014

Bionic BraWe all know taking care of your breasts is important for your health and we have heard the statistics such as 85% of women are wearing bra’s that don’t fit them. Researchers at the University of Wollongong in Austria believe that the fault of the poor fit lies with the bra. For the past 15 years they have been working to create a bra that can adjust to fit you perfectly and adapts to whatever activity you are partaking in. Professors Gordon Wallace and Julie Steele recently unveiled their prototype. The Bionic Bra looks like a souped up sports bra and is designed to sense how much support is needed and adjust the fit of the bra accordingly. So if you are sitting in a car the Bionic Bra will loosen and if you are working out it will tighten. At this point the bulky prototype is not washable and doesn’t adjust to your body to create the perfect fit. The researchers are now working to solve that and to make the Bionic Bra more fashionable.

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by Doug Parker
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Clothing

LikeAGlove Smart Clothing Finds Your Perfect Fit

November 20, 2014

LikeAGlove Measures Your Body

Yesterday at DEMO Fall 2014, startup LikeAGlove introduced a new concept in smart clothing. The garments are designed to generate your measurements while the app locates clothes that will fit you perfectly. LikeAGlove produces fitted, stretchy spandex clothing that that has conductive fibers woven into the material. These fibers connect to a small wireless controller on the garment that deciphers yours measurements and transmits them to your mobile device. The whole process apparently takes only a few seconds. LikeAGlove is currently planning on producing a long camisole, socks, shirt, and leggings (used for pants). Designed to make online shopping easier and less frustrating, the company has already created a database of top brands and their sizing specs. Simply wear the fiber-embedded garment for a few second, save your measurements, and utilize the app’s search engine to find clothes in sizes that correctly fit you. LikeAGlove describes the product as “very affordable” and ready to be produced in large quantities. Currently the company is deciding whether to sell directly to the consumer or utilize a strategic manufacturing and retail partner. Head past the break for a video: 

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by Doug Parker
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Clothing

Hexoskin Releases Smart Shirt To Monitor Your Workouts

October 2, 2014

Hexoskin

This week, Hexoskin announced the availability of their “smart shirt.” Originally funded on crowd-funding website Indiegogo, the $400 device is capable of providing information about heart-rate, breathing, activity, and sleeping. The Hexoskin shirt joins what is quickly becoming a crowded market segment, with products from Ralph Lauren and OMsignal. It appears that Hexoskin is trying to separate itself from the competition though with a more professional tool set. The iOS and Android app are able to track multiple shirts at once and the device is able to calculate things such as VO2max (generally regarded as a key base fitness measurement) and provide live raw data (which allows you to do such things as view your ECG on your phone). As with other “smart shirts”, the Hexoskin depends on a tight fit to get accurate measurements, so think carefully about your purchase if you don’t like to show off your body.

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by Doug Parker
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Clothing, Wearable Technology

Ralph Lauren Announces Polo Tech Smart Clothing (UPDATED)

August 25, 2014

Ralph Lauren Polo Tech Smart Shirt

UPDATE: The official website is now live, including a 2015 release window and a sign-up to be notified of updates.

Today Ralph Lauren has announced the launch of a new brand, Polo Tech.  Polo Tech represents the fashion mainstay’s first foray into smart clothing. The black T-shirt has silver threads woven into the fabric. These threads track and then transmit biometric data to a small black box on the shirt that also captures movement information. The black box then stores the data until the user syncs it to the accompanying app. If all of this sounds awfully familiar, it is because this is basically a rebranding of OMsignal’s shirt, which we covered earlier this year. The company has partnered with OMsignal to deliver the technology portion of the clothing. Ralph Lauren promises to expand the Polo Tech line over the coming months, suggesting that a dress shirt is also in the works. Hopefully it will not be as skin tight. While there has been no pricing announced yet, you can see the shirt in action starting this week.  

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by Doug Parker
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Clothing, Sports, Wearable Technology

OMsignal Launches Shirt With Integrated Biometric Sensor

May 11, 2014

OMsignal shirt and sensor

OMsignal has started taking preorders for its compression shirt with integrated biometric sensors.  Taking a departure from the standard “strapped-across-your-chest” athletic heart rate monitor, these sensors are built directly into the shirt.  The shirt is able to monitor your heart rate and breathing and then transfer that information to a small power/data module that attaches to the shirt.  This module stores your vitals and if you are near your “i”-device they are also sent in realtime via bluetooth (Android support is planned, likely waiting for better Bluetooth LE integration).  

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by Doug Parker
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