Smart diapers keep track of baby’s well-being

March 8, 2014  |  Out There

A new diaper product does quite a bit more than what diapers have always done. Smart Diapers by Pixie Scientific, N.Y., N.Y., monitor for signs of a health issue, such as a urinary tract infection, dehydration or developing kidney problem. Using a smart phone, a parent can scan the QR code patch on …
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Glowing reviews for students’ lighted textiles

March 8, 2014  |  Out There

Five students from Sweden’s School of Textiles, University of Borås, lit up the Furniture Fair in Stockholm, Sweden, this February with their experiments demonstrating the integration of light in woven fabrics. “We want to show another way of working with textiles than the traditional piece goo…
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The “face” of the Sochi Olympics

February 18, 2014  |  Out There

The pavilion of the Russian telecom operator MegaFon, general partner of the 2014 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, has its name on what may be the most unusual building at this year’s Olympics. During the Winter Olympics, 3D portraits of visitors and sport fans from all over Russia will appear on …
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Silkworms spin a colorful yarn

February 7, 2014  |  Out There

Chemists in India have cut a step in the silk-dyeing process by developing an eco-friendly method that allows silkworms to spin fluorescent, colored silk: they feed the worms dyed mulberry leaves.
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The origami kayak

February 7, 2014  |  Out There

A new company is out to “unlock the wonder and discovery of the great outdoors,” even for city dwellers, they say. And they plan to make it a little easier with a Kayak that folds up like a suitcase to be transported almost anywhere. Kayakers can keep the Oru Kayak in the trunk of the … <…
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The dress that responds to staring

February 7, 2014  |  Out There

Fashion designer and professor, recipient of the Phyllis-Lambert Design Montréal Grant, Ying Gao, is recognized worldwide, for her experimental work that melds advanced technologies, clothing and art.
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On-demand (printed) apparel

February 7, 2014  |  Out There

With the goal of reducing the amount of embodied energy in an article of clothing, a young entrepreneur is developing a 3D printer that can create customized, on-demand apparel. Aaron Rowley, founder of Electroloom, which is also the name of the product, says that the idea was generated from a conve…
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The joy of chocolate

January 29, 2014  |  Out There

As if chocolate isn’t enough of a pleasure, now there’s a jacket that lights up when the wearer eats chocolate. In fact, it can sense a Cadbury chocolate bar in its pocket. London design firm Hirsch & Mann designed the jacket on behalf of Cadbury’s public relations company GolinHarris,…
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Interactive fabric brings bedtime stories to life

January 11, 2014  |  Out There

“Read it again, Daddy!” might become an easier task with the development of a new “interactive” textile. TexTales, the brainstorm of Dutch Ph.D. candidate Kristi Kuusk, weaves images into bed linens that interact through a kind of QR code with handheld tablets and smart phones to bring image…
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Desert sanctuary reflects local flora

January 11, 2014  |  Out There

Many head to the desert for reflection and mediation. Mexican architect Iván Juárez has created a one- or two-person structure that “interacts” with its surrounding habitat to facilitate just such introspection. Reflecting the geometry of the surrounding desert plants, Juárez’ enclosure “…
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