The Reemo gesture band is aims to turn the real world into a point and click environment. It does not require the dexterity of a smartphone tap or a mouse click, but instead recognises simple pointing and waving gestures, with receivers hooked up to appliances around the home.
The developers, Playtabase, expect the band itself to cost around $125 with receivers costing around $30 in May this year. While home automation, fitness and gaming are obvious applications, Playtabase also suggested that the Reemo could be used by the elderly or those with limited muscle control for simplified interactions with computers and other controllable objects. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
An alternative to Google Glass and Vuzix smart glasses, the Optinvent Ora augmented reality glasses put a see-through screen in your vision.
Effectively built on an Android smartphone with data but without phone connectivity, the Ora smartglasses have a screen three-times larger than Google Glass, overlaying information on your vision as you go about your day.
The screen can be mounted directly in your line of sight or flipped down to just below for at-a-glance information. Optinvent is looking for developers and enterprise partners to pick up the smartglasses, which cost €700, to create at least 40 apps before launching for consumers in 2015. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
The SnapWatch concept, first theorised in 1999 and patented in 2005, pairs a flexible display to a snap band reminiscent of the Slap Bracelets of the 1980s and 1990s.
When struck against the wrist the band coils around, forming a fitted bracelet. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
The concept, which currently uses an electrochromic display, has been built into prototypes of music players, watches and smartwatches. The inventor, Vincent Douglas, admits that some miniaturisation is required on the control circuitry part, but is actively looking for partners to make the SnapWatch a reality beyond simple prototypes, now that display technology like flexible E-ink has come to fruition. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
AiQ is a smart clothing manufacturer, which has created super-thin stainless steel fibres that feel like wool. These fibres are weaved through the fabric enabling a whole range of smart features.
A top is currently available that has the wiring running across the chest can be used with a heart rate monitor to measure a person’s heart rate during training, but AiQ are working with universities in Taiwan on much more than that.
A concept design that can measure a wearers EEG, ECG, stress levels, fat content, muscle strength or anything else that uses current applied through the skin is expected to be in prototype form within six months, powered by a clip-on Bluetooth module. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
The SunFriend is a watch-like device that uses sensors to measure your UVA and UVB exposure from the Sun. Users can alter their skin sensitivity rating creating a personalised dosage meter, getting a warning when they have hit their limit.
It was developed over three years off the back of some Nasa technology around UV monitoring. The SunFriend is waterproof to 3m and will be available for around £40 in the next month. A more advanced version, which links to a smartphone via Bluetooth for displaying information, is currently under development and is expected in the first quarter of 2015. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
Vrase is essentially an Oculus Rift that uses a smartphone for the display. The accessory headset straps to the face with a slot for a smartphone – the iPhone and a variety of Android phones are currently supported.
The smartphone is then used to display a split screen image, which the Vrase headset turns into a 3D picture. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
As the developers of Vrase state, one advantage the accessory has over most other virtual reality headset designs is the rapid technological evolution of the smartphone. It can utilise the increasing power of smartphones, as well as their equipment including the motion sensors and cameras to create more immersive and constantly up to date experiences, as well as benefitting from the Android and Apple app stores. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
Developed over the last two years by ex-Royal Marine Simon Weatherall, Glofaster is a light-up jacket that pairs with sensors to detect your heart rate and give the wearer instant visual feedback on while training.
The original idea appeared on the BBC’s Dragon’s Den, starting out with some wires, lights, velcro and some brave volunteers. The jacket, design by former Abercrombie and Fitch designer Joanna Kent, is now washable, has integrated light strips and is powered by a removable battery pack for £99.
The electronic component of the system called The Gizmo, which connects to sensors and a smartphone app, is still under development and is expected to be ready for manufacturing in the next six months. Photograph: Alex Hern/The Guardian Photograph: Alex Hern/The Guardian
The product of two PhD graduates from Harvard, the SunSprite is a UV and light exposure meter that uses special filters to match the level of bright light entering your eye.
The little sensor is solar powered, connecting to a smartphone via Bluetooth, but also displaying your light dosage at a glance on a strip of LEDs.
While it can be used to measure UV exposure, the SunSprite is designed to measure bright light exposure for treating and monitoring seasonal affective disorder (Sad) – a condition that can cause depression and other negative effects when a person does not get enough bright light exposure via the eyes, often more prevalent in winter. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
Looking like something out of a science fiction war film, the Kopin Golden-i 3.8D is an advanced ruggedised wearable computer, built around an Android smartphone without the cellular connectivity, just like the Optinvent Ora.
It has a 14-megapixel camera complete with zoom, responds to voice commands and runs Android 4.2 complete with a custom interface and Skype, allowing headset to headset communication.
Kopin, however, is aiming this at anyone who needs hands-free access to information while on the job. It is the fifth generation of the system costing $1,500, and is being used as a reference design for manufacturers targeting enterprise. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
