Snapchat Spectacles Record & Share Memories
Google Glass didn’t go over all that well, but that doesn’t mean other companies won’t try something similar. Snap Inc., the tech giant behind Snapchat, makes the technology a little more fun and unobtrusive by integrating cameras into sunglasses so users can film their surroundings from their own perspectives, with a 115-degree field of view. They can capture a day’s worth of photos and videos on a single charge and connect directly to a user’s social media profile via bluetooth or wifi. Thankfully, it’s also obvious to passersby that the glasses have cameras on them, so people can’t be shady.
‘Ripple’ Visual & Sensory Seduction Assistant
Little pink tentacles react to the gaze of people around you, scanning your surroundings to see who’s watching you more than usual and sending you signals. If the attraction is mutual – i.e., you’re staring back – the tentacles will put on a flirty display. ‘Ripple’ by a team from the Royal College of Art aims to be a ‘seduction assistant,’ making it more obvious when someone seems to be giving you romantic attention. Of course, there’s one problem with this: people are probably going to stare because you’re wearing tentacles on your shoulders.
Anti-Distraction Tech-Disconnecting Jewelry
Have a hard time staying present in the moment because you’re easily distracted by your phone? ‘Altruis’ aims to interrupt that via bluetooth-enabled rings, bracelets and necklaces that alert you with discreet vibrations to let you know when an important message comes through, so your phone can remain tucked away and everything else can wait until later. That way, you can’t tell yourself you might be missing something crucial if you don’t have your phone in your hand at all times.
Bodyscape by Behnaz Farahi
Embedded within a diaphanous arrangement of fabric folds, LED lighting controlled by a gyroscope responds to the movements of the wearer’s body, enhancing them. The idea behind Bahnaz Farahi’s ‘Bodyscape’ series is to make dancing and performance more of a multi-sensory experience. The suit is 3D-printed from a non-flexible material that still moves in harmony with the body thanks to the ways in which it’s layered and folded, following natural ‘langer lines’ in of collagen in the skin where the skin is looser and less tense.
Bone-Conducting Smartphone Ring
The ORII ring by Kevin Johan Wong uses bone conducting technology to turn your entire hand into a smartphone, ditching screens in favor of sound but maintaining many of the same functions. So when your phone rings or you want to listen to something, you get to hold your finger against your ear like a spy. Presumably, the ring would also work with Bluetooth headphones when you don’t want to hold your arm up for a long time. “Designed to become an integral part of your life, ORII paves the way for a more screen-free lifestyle while giving you instant on-the-go connection to your smart devices. Our inspiration came from my dad who has been visually impaired from a young age. He set out to develop voice and text-based technology to help others like him and is a pioneer in his field with eight patents under his name.”
