Bikini + Sun = Power!

While joking with classmates at ITP, NYU's Interactive Telecommunication Program, Andrew Schneider came up with the idea of making a beer cooler using solar panels and ended up making a solar powered bikini.

According to Scheider, “The suit is a standard medium-sized bikini swimsuit retrofitted with 1″ x 4″ photovoltaic film strips sewn together in series with conductive thread. The cells terminate in a 5 volt regulator into a female USB connection.” 

Giles Deacon has solved the ‘ugly 3D viewing glasses’ problem with his latest venture with LG. Via: Harper's BAZAAR

The hit UK documentary series My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding has come to this side of the Atlantic, currently showing on TLC. The series offers a rare glimpse into the traditionally secretive Irish traveller community. Despite the show title, Irish travelers are not related to the Romani people. Misnomer or not, I found the series a compelling watch. How can it not with colorful dresses like these:

The Asian Tube TV Online Videos Blog features a video of the new “Necomimi” cat ears that convert your brainwaves into movements. The maker ”neurowear” uses a popularized cultish "CatGirl" style found in Anime and in street styles of Japan. The headband reads your brainwaves through various bio sensors which cause the ears to wiggle in response to your emotional state. 

In February, I shared my passion for the integration of fashion and technology with the TED audience at the TEDYou Stage in Palm Springs. During my talk I wore a light up jacket that was made from hacking Eric's HeartSpark necklace. The jacket was beaded with lights that blinked in rhythm with my heartrate in real time.

I walked by the news stand this morning and saw a familiar face. Ms. Limor Fried was there looking back at me with a strong and powerful glance on the cover of Wired Magazine. Amazingly, according to Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories, this is the first time a female engineer has been featured on the cover. 

What will happen with intellectual property laws when we have mass-produced fashion with integrated electronics? Should we follow the fashion industry or the science industry when it comes to IP protection? In case you need some help deciding, here is Johanna Blakley from readytoshare.org talking about "Lessons from fashion's free culture" from TED.COM.

If you don't feel like wearing your heart on your sleeve this Valentines Day, try wearing it as a necklace.

Eric Boyd of Sensebridge, designed this wonderful heart-shaped circuit that blinks with the beating of your heart. It reads from a Polar transmitter that you wear around your chest and shares your most intimate biological information with anyone watching. 

The Heart Spark V1.0 is being sold at a trial price of $69 plus shipping & handling, you can purchase it here: http://sensebridge.net/projects/heart-spark/

Just in case you missed it, watch the amazing light up clothing from the Super Bowl Half Time Show.

Think Project Runway is hard? Try hacking your clothes with technology in 6 hours!  

On February 1st, watch live as I challenge 14 fashion students from the Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center to hack their clothes with technology at eTech Ohio. With only 6 hours and no prior knowledge of technology, Juniors and Seniors will instruct and learn how to infuse technology such as conductive thread, fabric, fiber optics, wires, and sewable LEDs into garments.

The designs will be showcased on the catwalk prior to the keynote event on the 2nd. Don't Miss it!

If you want to keep up on the play by play action, be sure to follow the conference on Twitter @ohioetc