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Tech to wear

By Peachy Limpin

Convenience has been one of the driving forces behind technological innovations. And with these innovations come interesting gadgets researchers and inventors are designing to be worn. Here’s a few of them featured on USA Today.

One is the MIT Memory Glasses that looks like an ordinary rimless glasses except that it functions like a personal digital assistant with a plus: it gives the location of the user at all times.  It’s like wearing a tracking device that any satellite can pick up.  (Think “Enemy of the State”).

From its description, it’s an intelligent eyewear because it can create a wearer’s profile based on background information entered into the glasses’ minicomputer.  If it can do what it claims it can of being able to identify someone’s name on second meeting, then I’d definitely line up to get one of this. 

The glasses have a software that flashes subliminal hints on a small screen within the lenses.  Good thing I’m near sighted.  It would be easy for me to read the hints.  But I found it strange that after reading this feature, the image of the Terminator (all three of them) came to mind.

However, this is one pair of specs I wouldn’t mind spending on at the cost of designer brands if it can do more than just make my world clear.

Another functional fashion accessory is a solar powered purse.  The handbag’s exterior is made up of solar panels that harness the sun’s rays into the batteries.  Inside the purse is an USB port where users can charge electronic devices like cellphones and iPods.  But in order to charge the batteries. One has to place the bag near a window, which would not be possible if one works in an enclosed area where there are no windows, like I do.

There is, on the other hand, an alternative.  A backpack that converts a walker’s mechanical movements into electricity using a generator that weighs only a pound.  The backpack was designed for soldiers but could also benefit hikers or emergency workers.

And for those who carry thumb or USB drives around, these tiny storage devices can now be plugged into car stereos by simply storing music it and a compatible stereo will play the tracks.  Car stereo makers are either manufacturing new models that can accommodate these drives or selling USB/iPod adapters that can be attached to existing car stereo systems.

What would they come up with next?  Apparel that adjusts to the wearer’s body temperature and to the environment wouldn’t be such a bad idea.  Or a credit card that can show one’s available balance on the face of the card to avoid the embarrassment of being told that a transaction was denied because the total bill was over the limit already.

While there are already automatic flushers and automatic faucets, it would be nice to see an automatic mirror that would roll down when it senses a person about to use it, much like an automatic door, and would automatically roll up when that person has stayed in front of it for over a minute.


(For more tech ideas email me at openingpagemb@yahoo.com)

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