talking 2 your Shirt is becoming soon a reality thanks to the latest wearable technology innovation from Under Armour, a company founded in 1996 by former University of Maryland football player Kevin Plank, with the dedication of creating innovative performance apparel for men, women and youth.

The E39 electric shirt with integrated sensors and attachment point for the ‘Bug’, a tiny computer that holds a triaxial accelerometer, a processor, and 2 gigabytes of storage. This super bug records heart rate, breathing rate, skin surface temperature and acceleration.

The performance data are stored on the 4.5 oz Bug but can also be wireless transmitted via Bluetooth to smart-phones, iPad and laptop, giving the trainer real-time information of the athlete’s movements and performance.

Under Armour partnered with Zephyr, a company which makes wearable biometric monitoring systems for the defense and health care industry.

It is impressive how Under Armour’s wearable technology team utilizes wearable tech possibilities to create a meaningful product, able to transform the way professional athletes can reach peak performance without being wired up like a Lab rat.

The super Bug shirt will become available to fitness enthusiasts in 2012 – so in a years time you can ask your shirt: ‘How fit I am today?’

I like to close this article with a statement, taken from the video, made by Sam Hollenbach, Innovation Engineer at UA: ‘We can measure your potential‘.

source: Wired

Semi professional and professional athletes need to collect their bio and other workout related data during their training to optimize their program to successfully comped for the precious metal at sporting events.

Most of the recording is still done by hand with data coming from multiple sensor devices attached to the athletes body. It’s working but cumbersome to set up the sensor devices each time before starting the training.

In our digital age where everything can be easily recorded and beamed to the ‘cloud’ for number crunching and presentation anytime and anywhere, smart workout apparel like the e-Shirt developed by Emxys at ESA’s Business Incubation Centre Noordwijk in the Netherlands, is pointing into the future of smart workout apparel for athletes.

TrainGrid consists of an e-Shirt with integrated sensors to determine in real time the athlete’s electrocardiogram, heart rate, skin temperature, body position and location via GPS. All the data are transmitted via Bluetooth to a mobile phone or computer to share with a coach, doctor, friends or on a social network.

A developer Kit is available for € 1000.- (around $ 1300.-) a steep price tag but the kit is not intended to be a commercial product but for developers to start making apps for iPhone, Facebook, Android – you name it.

Maybe smart workout clothing can motivate many to go out and move around a bit and share training routes and schedule, compare performance and the fitness status instead of sitting on the couch and share what movie you watch right now. Yeah I know, I am an optimist …

A few days ago I stumbled over the job opening at Adidas for a wearable electronic designer but it seems Adidas is making already first low-tech steps towards more interactive fashion enhancements.

Glow-in-the-dark printing on fabrics is not really a high tech matter but as far as I can judge this, such fashion experiments came only into fashion – so to speak – since wearable technologies in general pushes fashion technology into new territory.

Stella McCartney used glow-in-the-dark in an aesthetic pleasant way to design a range for Adidas. The Stella McCartney collection includes Ruched-shoulder jackets, drawstring shorts and lace-up running shoes.

Colors and pattern prints are nice and have been in use for many (hundred) years in fashion design as well as beads and other eye-catching elements attached or integrated into fabrics.

But all these elements and colors are static, once you choose the print and color it stays there for ever (as long as the season lasts).

Adding (re)active materials or technologies make the emotional color and pattern play more interesting, changing it’s appearance triggered by our surrounding environment, when light or temperature or humidity changes the appearance of our clothing will change in reaction of it.

Glow-in-the-dark printing is a first step into a more (re)active future of fashion design.

[Ecouterre via StyleGuru]

It took Rib Curl three years to design, test and optimize the H-bomb heated wetsuit but it finally has arrived. Cold weather will never again be a show stopper for dedicated surfer with this high tech wetsuit.

The heating elements are placed at the back and made of carbon fiber configured to allow maximum levels of stretch.

Two Lithium-ion, 7.4 volt batteries are positioned on the lower back where body torque is least required, having the least impact on wear comfort and your surfing experience.

When the body is faced with extreme cold conditions the heating system automatically acts to protect the bodies core and internal organs by restricting blood flow to those areas farthest from your heart. That’s why hands and feet go numb when surfing in cold conditions.

The H-Bomb elements are placed along the spine to warm the core and therefore allows the body to keep pumping blood to the extremities. A complete charged set of batteries will give three hours of heat = three hours longer in the water or three hours in waters you usually won’t go without the H-bomb.

The heating system, including the batteries, have been extensively tested for impact, vibration, thermal short circuit, overcharge and waterproofing. All test results complied with appropriate accredited safety standards.

The batteries and electronics have been engineered so it is almost impossible for the wearer to receive any form of an electric shock.

Available in various off line and online stores like this one for around $1000.- a small price for the opportunity to extend the surfing season.

[via: Gizmo Watch]

Quiksilver introduces a battery powered heat vest that can be worn under any wetsuit. The CYPHER PS+ Heat Vest System delivers hours of heat to maintain core temperature allowing enthusiastic surfer to extend their surfing experience in cooler conditions.

The Cypher PS+ Heat Vest utilizes flexible water proof carbon pads to house the powered heat elements and distribute heat to the body and water within the wetsuit.

These pads are incorporated into a light weight polypropylene vest which can be worn under any wetsuit and serves as an additional thermal layer.

Far Infra-Red heat technology (we posted about it some time ago) is a safe and therapeutic form of heat that is free from hot wires or electromagnetic fields. The far infra red heat technology has been incorporated into flat flexible carbon pads to distribute heat and seal it off from direct water contact.

The CYPHER PS+ Heat Vest System comes with rechargeable battery that will last 2 hours on ‘High’ setting and has two other setting option of ‘medium’ and ‘low’ spanning a temperature range from 116 – 129 degree Fahrenheit.

Heated clothing is opening more and more clothing segments  showing once again how technology enhanced clothing can add value that is/was not possible before wearable electronic development took place.

The Quiksilver Cypher PS+ Heated Vest retails for around 199.- and is available on various surf shops online like this one.

Adidas is taking the lead when it comes to highly fashionable and very smart fitness clothing. After the launch of the AdiStar Fusion selection in 2007, Adidas expanded their smart fitness apparel collection adding different styles for men and women.

The latest collection of the Adidas Fusion and the new miCoach fitness apparel range use textile electrodes seamless integrated into the shirts and tops fabric taking away the ‘not so favorable’ look when using HRM and the highly uncomfortable wear feel of conventional chest-strap like HRM devices.

Adidas teamed also up with Samsung Electronics and made the intelligent fitness apparel range compatible with the miCoach training system that includes a quad band slider phone from Samsung acting as a fitness trainer, a heart rate monitor tuning into the rhythm of the user’s body, a stride sensor to measure speed and distance while running (when the miCoach sports shoe) and a web workout journal to help people design and keep track of fitness programs.

A highly sophisticated system linking the data collected from the smart clothing to online services for performance tracking and sharing with team members of friends.

An almost perfect scenario which I can envision interactive, intelligent clothing will be heading.

Adidas smart fitness apparel also work with Polar’s Wearlink sensor so if you own already a Polar system you just need to select one of the gorgeous looking fitness fashion shirts and tops and you are good to go.

There are many online shops selling the Adidas smart fitness fashion collection so we just give one example of where to start looking around.

Upgrade your fitness wardrobe to be ready for the the coming spring/summer season.

Adidas is the first place to check out when it comes to truly smart, intelligent fitness apparel and shoes.

We compiled a list of cool interactive fashion items that are on sale online. Maybe there is something for you to grab for the last few weeks of summer ahead of us.

Music and Sons offers a 30% discount of most of their fabulous looking MP3 Music T-Shirts. Made with the greatest care for the environment by using organic cotton and Bamboo fibers as well as adopting ‘Fair Wear’ principles to ensure slave labor and other unethical employment is excluded from the manufacturing process of all garments makes these T-Shirts a trendsetter in eco clothing as well as in our interactive fashion lineup.

Music and Sons MP3 T-Shirts make the cable management for your mobile device as easy as wearing a T-Shirt.

How about some workout in style?  The Numetrex Heart Rate Monitor Sports Bra goes for just $45.95 and the Men’s Cardio Shirt for $58.99

Having a good workout outdoors before the winter season starts is a good idea.

With the Numtrex line of textile sensor equipped heart rate sport apparel you can get in shape in the most comfortable and good looking way.

Want to be power grid independent? Have a look at the many Solar power bags on the market. Eclipse Solar Gear has their good looking Fusion TM Canvas Messenger Bag at a reduced price off $53.99, saving you almost 25%. The messenger bag has pockets for your cell phone and audio player as well as a large cavity for a laptop computer. Getting a free charge every other day is a nice thing, saves a bit off carbon and some money in your pocket.

These are just a few items out of the growing range of interactive apparel and bags. Getting a bit of savings once in a while is always welcome and we help you in searching around to save you also some valuable time and spare you from googling and running around for a bargain.

Looking for a ‘sensible’ gift for your Dad? NuMetrex has a great offer for Father’s Day: a 20% discount on the Cardio Shirt for Men.

NuMetrex has a range of Cardio Apparel we love to write about. They look gorgeous and work perfectly. Getting a bit in shape at the begin of summer is on the agenda of many, not only our Dads’. The Cardio Shirts are more motivating than the chest straps that look always a bit funny on men beside the fact that they are uncomfortable and slip during workout.

Constructed of an advanced wicking fabric with special sensory fibers integrated directly into the garment. The sensing fabric moves comfortably with the body, picking up the heart’s pulse and sending it to a compatible heart rate monitor watch or cardio machine via a tiny transmitter that is snapped into a pocket on the shirt.

The NuMetrex Cardio Shirt for men is available in graphite and blue steel and goes for regular price of $58.95 but using the coupon code DAD during checkout you get 20% discount which makes it $47.16

This coupon code is working from now until June 15 when Father’s Day will be celebrated. Make sure your Dad has a transmitter and heart rate monitor watch otherwise you need to take care for that as well.

Get your Dad this year something ‘sensible’ – got it

The Visibility for runners in low light condition and at night present a safety concern which is addressed by various reflective add-on strips and jackets or shoes.

To improve the visibility, active light emitting materials like LEDs or EL (Electro Luminescent) foils or wires is a more effective solution as it does not require light to be reflected.

There have been a range of concept designs and DIY projects among the Wearable Electronic community (look around our blog) to show possible solutions to this problem but most of them are still at the demonstrator stage.

But there is one very simple yet effective product on the market for quite some time from no one less than Nike the #1 outfitter for runners.

Called the Electrolite Arm Band it combines soft light embedded into an Arm Band to increase the visibility and safety at night while running. The Nike Electrolite arm band is an alternative to often-clunky LED running lights and definitely more wearable, speak comfortable.

Made of a flexible, lightweight, wide-angle wrap-around electroluminescent light bar that flashes on your upper arm. The small water resistant compartment houses two replaceable CR2032 batteries which provide around 20-30 hours of use and a low-profile on/off button.

The thin design weighs only a few grams more than an arm sweatband and won’t hinder your arm’s natural running motion. The wrap around shape ensures that the light can be seen from the front and the back.

Stay visible and safe while you go for an evening run with this Nike Electrolite Luminescent armband. It is not only comfortable but also affordable costing just $25.- directly by Nike or other sports retailers.

We are well into the spring season and it’s time to get out of the chair and do more exercise.

I was looking around for my new Wearable Electronic workout gear and came across this very interesting Polar compatible Biker shorts from Nalini, an Italian company specialized in high performance biker outfit.

Shirts and Tops with integrated textile sensors are available from Numetrex and Adidas but biker shorts using a textile sensor is new and a great idea.

Not only does it take away the very annoying chest-straps that rub the skin, Nalini placed the Polar transmitter on the back where it does not interfere with your action. The attachment of the Polar transmitter is done via simple snaps.

The Rododendro bib shorts upper part is made of breathable mesh, reflecting materials on the back and rubberized bottom leg bands are more features of the Rododendro bib shorts.

Nalini Rododendro bib shorts are part of the top line in the Nalini product range, developed based of the experiences from professional bikers. The use of innovative materials, a unique style and high tech heart-rate sensing technology makes these shorts an excellent example of ‘made in Italy’ sports fashion.

Available for example via this link for € 119,95 (around $187.80) excluding a Polar WearLink Transmitter.

The Rododendro bib shorts get the highest marks on our Sports-Tech scale, for it’s overall style and for its innovative use of e-textiles.