One of the most popular stories ever on this site was about DrumPants, a set of lightweight MIDI triggers that fit either on or under your clothing, and which trigger drum sounds when you touch them. The concept was simple and the execution was too -- or, as simple as building hardware ever is. The first version was the result of a very successful crowd-funding campaign, and a … [Read more...]
will.i.am Intros the Puls Wearable
For an enterprise-oriented show, there sure has been a ton of buzz over what kind of wearable the singer will.i.am will introduce -- and why it's coming out at Dreamforce. The product is called the Puls. It's a cuff-style wristband with a very cool curved screen. Pictures from the initial handout are a little hard to distinguish, but it appears to use a touch screen of some … [Read more...]
MIDI Controller Jackets from Mexico City
We sometimes get so caught up in product and sales that we forget the creative side of wearables. A cool reminder crossed our desk today: a Mexican company called Machina that makes jackets and hoodies chock full of movement sensors that send out MIDI signals. The result: clothing you can use to make music. (We're embedding the video here, but take a look at the whole page; … [Read more...]
A Drum Set In Your Pants
How about a set of electronic drum pads inserted into your pants and shirts? Drumming your fingers on your legs can turn into a snare roll; tapping your chest rhythmically can sound like a tom or a bass beat. Drumpants doubled the ask on its Kickstarter campaign, which closed last week. The Arduino-driven sensors are programmed through an iPad app. They can be any kind of … [Read more...]
Wearable Bass for DJs
Anyone who's sat next to somebody who plays their earphones too loud will probably be able to appreciate the SubPacM1, a wearable subwoofer. A press release from the company describes it as a "low-profile" backpack that "provides the physical vibrations of club-level bass in a wearable form that is quiet to the outside world (and sleeping neighbors." The thing weighs about … [Read more...]