Webelow Wear

According to the American Music Therapy Association(AMATA), music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals. These goals can range from bettering social interactions  amongst the menatlly handicap or austic, to reducing stress levels among terminally ill patients.  After reading Talk2MyShirt’s posting on the Bio Circuit Vest we did a little research and found the subject absolutely fascinating…and opportune for the wearables community.

The vest,  created by two students at the Emily Carr University of Art + Design, monitors your heart rate and based on that information plays music to “match” your “mood”.  That  is, if you’re super calm and chilled-out-man it plays chill sounds. Inversely, if your excited and heart rate is high, the vest  plays a cacophony of sounds through the  speakers connected to an MP3 player.  Arguably,  the vest does have a therapeutic aspect but – we think – can be repurposed specifically for the use of music therapy.

Imagine a crying baby, a person with autism or a terminal patient wearing this vest/sweater/wrap (or however it’s to be packaged) being instantly soothed – at least momentarily – by classical music  from the embedded speakers playing as the wearer’s heart rate increases past a certain “calm” zone.

Simple and effective. 

Have any other ideas on how this product can be used (or altered)? Let us know!

This is a neat DIY offered on Instructables; a switch that turns on an LED light by literally stroking the hairs of conductive and resistive thread. Using  neoprene to hold each thread, the user’s strokes turns on a LED light powered by a 3V coin cell battery.  Simple, practical and cost effective.

A lot of potential in the wearables world. Imagine gloves that when worn and rubbed together trigger the heating element, instantly warming the user’s hands.   Could the threads be sensitive enough to detect wind movement?  We’re very curious.