Viral Style: Smart Shoes, Computer Error Apparel, And A Hair Straightener That Dyes Your Hair

Showing an enviably optimistic approach to virtual life, New York-based Soug Wen has found a way to turn all those annoying ‘error’ notifications on your computer into a range of cool apparel and accessories. Featured on Gothscreenshots, tees, totes and swimsuits are digitally printed with graphics like the spinning rainbow of death, frozen glitch repeats, and sad face folders. Reckon you can do better? Head over to Print All Over Me like Soug did, and get creative on your own garms using their online personalisation service.

We’ve been exploring wearable tech accessories and clothing for a while now, but the concept of smart footwear is still relatively fresh terrain. Enter: an Indian start-up called Ducere Technologies, who have developed a pair of Internet-enabled, interactive haptic shoes able to connect with Google Maps. The idea is that the wearer will be guided on the right path as they walk, directed by vibrations that occur when he/she needs to turn at a junction or fork. The Lechal shoes (translating as ‘take me along’ in Hindi) can also hook up with the wearer’s smartphone via Bluetooth, and come complete with sensors to record distance travelled and calories burned.

Okay, so if you were big into your 90’s teen films like I was, you’ll remember that bit in The Craft when Robin Tunney changes her hair colour by running her hands through it. A new beauty innovation promises—almost—the same kind of instant makeover through a device not unlike a hair straightener equiped with ion beam tech.

Engineers at the University of New Mexico teamed up with Los Alamos National Laboratories on the project, and discovered that minute patterns etched into brown hair strands can reflect in such a way as to change colour. It’s thought that this technology could be built into a device like hair straighteners, meaning people could transform the shade of their locks without having to use harsh chemical dyes. Just hurry up and get this thing in the shops already, I’m feeling like going purple.

We humans might think we’re superior for having opposable thumbs and four fingers on each hand, but researchers at MIT have figured out a new way to go one—well, two—better. A wearable robot device has the potential to add two strong, dextrous digits to the wearer’s hand, attached via a device worn on the wrist. A sensor-embedded glove works through an algorithm that moves the extra robo fingers in sequence with the fleshy ones. The gadget is designed to help those with limited movements with everyday tasks, like opening bottles, but we figure it will also work as a great device to take along to buffets, picnics etc etc etc… just think how much more food you could grab.

Created by the Thalmic Labs start-up, Myo is a tricked-out tech armband that can track movements from your hand and arm, allowing you to control your desktop, laptop, smartphone or other gadgets via gesture alone. (Next-level Minority Report stuff, basically.) Myo’s flexible plastic band comes complete with a whole mess of electronics and stainless steel sensors, and the device also has Bluetooth 4.0 capabilities. Initially revealed last year, Thalmic Labs will now be now rolling out orders as of September, so get those wishlist requests in now.

As much as we love our smartphones and gadgets, it’s a right pain in the backside to ensure they’re charged all the time. Unless you carry around a lead 24/7, it’s pretty likely you’re going to get caught out with a dead device at one point or another. A start-up called Imprint Energy aims to change all that, having developed an industrial-printed, durable battery that can even be worn on the body. Their cell is formed out of a polymer electrolyte (dubbed ZincPoly for short) to ensure long-lasting battery life, which is flexible enough to withstand up to 1,000 bending cycles. You’ll never have to go begging for a plug socket in Starbucks again.

What other next-level fashion was floating around the net this week? Let us know in the comments section! And for more on wearables, check out The Creators Project's documentary series exploring the future of wearable tech: Make It Wearable l The Concepts.