Archive for the ‘Clothing’ Category
Last Exit To GeekDad
Author: Randy Miller
courtesy Last Exit To Nowhere
Geeks love movies.
Geeks love T-shirts.
Geeks love to express their love of movies on their T-shirts.
And the folks at Last Exit To Nowhere love to make geeky t-shirts inspired by geeky movies.
The company was set up about 3 years ago by a bunch of movie geeks who also happen to be designers, illustrators, screenprinters and photographers. Their goal was to create something a little bit different, and you can see the pride they obviously take in their work from the results.
Where their designs differ from the plethora of other T-shirts out there is in the almost forgotten art of subtlety. Anyone can knock up a shirt with the movie’s logo on it or write something ‘witty’ in The Terminator font, but Last Exit likes to do it in a much more esoteric way. Of course, as soon as someone has a great idea like this, there’s instantly hundreds of copycats around the web, but beware of imitations!
The Overlook Hotel
I’ve seen hundreds of variations of Jack Nicholson’s head coming through the chopped up doorway saying “Here’s Johnny!”, but Last Exit’s take on The Shining
Why settle for Sloth’s ever quotable, but eminently predictable, “Hey, you guys!” on your Goonies-themed tee, when you could have the logo for the “Lighthouse Lounge” resturant and bar?
Sometimes they take the logo of a company glimpsed for only a few moments in the film and reproduce it, as they’ve done with Omni Consumer Products (OCP) from Robocop
Weyland Yutani Corp
Other designs feature logos for corporations only mentioned verbally in the movie, which Last Exit then creates from scratch in the appropriate style. Ever wondered what the Alien franchise’s ‘Weyland-Yutani’ Corp’s logo would look like? Or how about Gaff’s Spinner from Blade Runner?
Some of the best ones are designed like tourist souvenirs from the real and fictional locations in some of our favourite flicks. How about a shirt from ‘Devil’s Tower, Wyoming’ or ‘Hill Valley High School’? Or maybe even the pub featured in An American Werewolf in London: ‘The Slaughtered Lamb’?
Abe Froman
My favourite thing about the ‘Abe Froman, Sausage King Of Chicago’ one my wife got for me is that so few people actually get it. To them it could just a cute 50s style illustration of a guy with a sausage on a fork, only the Trufan™ will recognise it for what it is and give you that knowing nod of approval. Shame on you if you just had to Google
Do you know what the Shimata Dominguez Corporation do? Where did you see Jaffe’s Burger Den? What about Charlie Croker’s Couch Tours? There are so many great design from great movies that it’s actually really tough to decide which ones to buy! There is one odd thing though – all the tees seem to be based on movies from the 20th century, with only a few more recent ones. You won’t find any referencing The Matrix or Moon. Maybe the studios keep a tighter reign on the copyright these days, which is a real shame as I’d love a Lunar Industries
They produce some of the designs in slim-fit and hoodie styles, as well as kids sizes so the little geeklets can be in on the joke too, even if they don’t really get it. Add to that some special posters and embroidered caps and it’s a one stop shop for geek satisfaction. They use the highest quality t-shirts and the screenprinting is faultless – unless it’s supposed to have a vintage look of course. International shipping starts at £4, which seems very reasonable to me given that I’ve paid upwards of $10 to get shirts shipped from the US to England in the past. The ones I’ve ordered for myself have generally arrived the next day.
Last Exit To Nowhere is very active on the social media scene, and are constantly previewing new designs and running competitions through their twitter account @lastexitshirts and facebook page. Their #hashtag games are great fun to take part in even if you don’t win – the last two were #BestTopicalFilm and #BestHorrorMonster – and then there’s always the photo of the month competition, where people show off their purchases in very creative ways.
Speaking of competitions, Last Exit To Nowhere has very kindly given five lucky GeekDad readers the chance to win one their fabulous t-shirts. We thought we’d make it a bit more interesting than just leaving a comment, so we’ve put together a little multiple choice quiz for you. Correctly name all 20 movies that each of these t-shirt designs were inspired by, leave your email address and we’ll pick five winners at random on the 13th September.
Even if you don’t win, you can still save 15% on the price of the t-shirts be using the code GEEKDAD at the checkout on lastexittonowhere.com.
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Last Exit To GeekDad
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Tags: armchair geek, Chicago, competition, designs, Film, industries, joke, London, Love, mountains, movie, price, quiz, school, wife | 
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10 Geeky Swear Phrases That Don’t Exist (Yet)
Author: admin
Photo by Wil Wheaton's friend loren.
Perry White has his “Great Caesar’s ghost!” Doc Brown has his “Great Scott!” Fallout Boy has “Jiminy jillikers!” And the characters in the Harry Potter stories are fond of “Merlin’s beard!” Yes, a good, solid swear phrase is always good to have ready for those times when you feel the need to yell, but don’t want to say anything inappropriate in front of young ears.
Here, then, are ten geeky oaths that, to our knowledge, have never been used before. We offer them, royalty-free, to the geek community at large. Use them in good health, with or without a “great” in front of them (which you should probably reserve for extreme situations).
1. “Riker’s beard!” – It really was hard to take Jonathan Frakes seriously that first season of TNG, and it wasn’t entirely because his uniform was a bit too tight. He just looked a bit too much like an overgrown boy scout, and the beard really did help a lot. We think that makes it a suitable subject for swearing.
2. “Cesar Romero’s mustache!” - You know, the one he refused to shave off to play Joker in the old Adam West Batman TV show and movie, so they simply covered it up with white makeup and hoped for the best.
3. “Coulton’s Zendrum!” - If you’ve seen JoCo play “Mr. Fancy Pants” in the last few years, you know what we’re talking about. If you haven’t, seek enlightenment.
4. “Wheaton’s clown sweater!” – Need we elaborate? We didn’t think so.
5. “Bard’s arrow!” - If you’ve read The Hobbit, you get the reference. If you haven’t, what in the wide wide world of sports are you waiting for?
6. “Fozzie’s necktie!” – Not only is it remarkable because it’s one of the only two items of clothing he typically wears (the other being his hat, naturally), but it’s also integral to one of the funniest gags on The Muppet Show (naming or linking to the joke would spoil it).
7. “Boba Fett’s rocket pack!” – On the one hand, how awesome would it be to always have a rocket pack on your back in case you need it? On the other hand, it does sort of end up not being the best idea for poor Boba, doesn’t it?
8. “Superman’s underpants!”- Seriously, if you’re the most famous superhero ever, why would you go around with your underpants on the outside? Especially when you can hear pretty much everyone who makes fun of you, no matter how quietly they whisper?
9. “Wolverine’s claws!” - No explanation needed, we hope.
10. “Shatner’s hairpiece!” – Bill, really, we love your hammy over-emoting, and especially. Making fun. Of it. But when you’re in your forties and actually gain hair in between movies, nobody buys it.
Any other good ideas out there? Leave a comment.
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10 Geeky Swear Phrases That Don’t Exist (Yet)
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Tags: boba fett, cesar-romero, characters, great-caesar, Knowledge, LED, Sports, swearing, Watch, william shatner |
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A GeekDad Builds A Cabin Bed
Author: Jenny Zhao
Artist's impression of the finished bed
I wonder if there is a mathematical formula describing the rate at which children accumulate toys and junk? It seems to grow at an exponential rate round here and when you factor in a small house and bedroom, you soon end up exploding at the seems.
Our little one is fast growing out of her clothes too, necessitating the need for new, and larger, clothing which obviously occupies more volume too. The cot bed is reaching the end of its usable life, the old crib is bulging with soft toys and the stopgap toy chest is falling apart from being overfilled. Something needs to be done, and quickly.
Here on GeekDad, we’ve featured a great way to hack an Ikea bed into something more usable and at least one reader followed the idea, but this time I’ve decided that a cabin style bed is the way forward. Unfortunately, after a great deal of research, I’ve concluded that none of the ones currently on the market tick all the required boxes. Which means it’s time to dust off the power tools and build our own. Woo-hoo!
The first step was to decide the storage options. We’ve ended up going with various drawers from an Italian company called Lazzari – they are available from Colours Ltd and The Great Little Trading Co. here in the UK. They are much more durable than other soft options around, the coated nylon is washable and they’re available is lots of bright colours and patterns. We considered the hard plastic crates, but they’re not as pretty and have a tendency to crack in my experience.
Side elevations of the design
The first support will hold 12 of the larger drawers, and now I know their sizes, all the measurements for the bed flow can from there. The second support includes a hanging rail for dressing up costumes and larger spaces to hold shoes and Lego crates.
One element that I’ve borrowed from an existing bed is the steps. Rather than just having a ladder to reach the lofty sleeping area, I’ve made six large steps at one end of the bed, each one containing another storage drawer. The bed section itself is sized to hold a full size single mattress as I want this bed to last as long as possible, until she moves out hopefully!
I’m also planning to use some of the offcuts to make little shelves and storage cubes to be placed around the bed and possibly a fold down desk to span the space between the two supports underneath, but I won’t know for sure how they’ll work until everything is assembled later.
Isometric views of the design
After receiving complaints about the ad-hoc nature of my last build (a treehouse), this time around I’ve been a but more precise with my plans. No more making it up as I go along. So the initial pencil sketches of the plans were transferred into Illustrator on my mac and laid out with precise measurements. Using Illustrator’s built in 3D tools I was able to create a basic isometric render of the design to help us visualise the finished product.
The biggest advantage of doing it this way was that I could lay the individual pieces out onto scaled 8′x4′ sheets of MDF (I went with 15mm thick sheets) and rearrange them to make the best use of the sheets with minimal waste – I got it down to 10 sheets in the end. Each ‘module’ of the plans is colour coded so I could easily see which piece goes where.
I then printed out these scale plans and took them down to my local timber yard, as they have a large scale saw for cutting sheet materials, knowing exactly the sizes I needed and where the first cut should be. This is much easier for two reasons; you don’t have to transport the full sized sheets (which can be pretty heavy) and you get perfect, straight edges – something that’s pretty much impossible to achieve at home, unless you’re lucky enough to have a table saw in your workshop of course. Obviously, you’ll need to cut the curved edges for yourself.
As each piece came off the saw I checked the size and wrote it on the back, then coded them with a letter for easy identification later.
The pieces laid out on 8'x4' sheets
After three trips for the MDF (I drive a Beetle, so there’s not much room inside) all the materials are ready to go. The last sheet I had to get delivered – it was the sheet for the steps and they wouldn’t let me jigsaw the funny cut in store!
I’ve treated myself to a new electric sander and new blades for the jigsaw, a fresh set of brushes and gloss mini rollers. Time to get cracking, look out for part two to see how the assembly goes…
And, if you fancy having a go at building one for your own little geek, please feel free to download my plans and use them. Follow me on twitter @geekDadNath and let me know if you’re gonna have a go!
Disclaimer:
The plans are provided as a courtesy and for legal reasons I have to say that neither myself, GeekDad, Wired nor Conde Nast can take any responsibility for their accuracy or structural integrity and if you choose to use them, you do so of your own free will and it is up to you to ensure their proper construction.
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A GeekDad Builds A Cabin Bed
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Tags: Air, bed, Cabin, Clothing, Funny, home improvement, Italian, mdf, measurements, sizes, Space, Storage |
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Review: Developmental Value in The Land of Me
Author: Angela Chin
Regular GeekDad readers will probably know that I’m interested in how the games children play and engage with support their development and help them, in some small way, to develop the skills and knowledge to create a better future world. Recently, I’ve been engaging in a new digital experience with my kids. Created by the UK-based Made in Me, I assumed their digital book/game/activity center called The Land of Me would be a bit young for my children. But, this is a carefully constructed adventure that is presented in a way that even drew in my eight-year-old. The activities and games were probably a little easy for him, but the old-school picture book style of images, the soft and whimsical audio and friendly voiceovers really piqued his interest.
This is an activity for parents and children to do together. And, I like that. While sometimes you just need to put your iPhone in your child’s hand while you finish off that report, or get the dinner done – other times we need to make room to share the digital experience with our children. The Land of Me is a perfect and affordable place to hang out and support your child’s learning and development. The fact Made in Me promote their links with early childhood development and have obviously thought about it during development, I thought a chat with James Huggins, the driving force behind the project was in order.
So, I asked James where the inspiration came from … and of course, I found he has children of his own. After a career in the visual effects industry, he was a little disappointed at what was out there for his kids.
James: Included in the many challenges of parenthood was my struggle to find interactive children’s media that was beautiful, enchanting and as much fun for me as it was for the kids. So I thought maybe we should have a go. What really excited me was the prospect that we could use the computer as a start point for all kinds of creative activities that could stretch a child’s imagination and language. Most importantly, these should be the kinds of activities that you do together.
GeekDad: What can technology bring to the learning and development of young children?
James: I know it seems pretty obvious but one of the most important activities for a child’s early development is talking. Talking with adults and other children. One of the major bench tests in beta-testing with The Land of Me was how much were users talking to each other. It seems strange I know, to use a computer to create more, not less, conversation but if the content is right it really works. We found that when some parents experience The Land of Me for the first time they are surprised by the fact that it is clearly not a computer game in the traditional sense. There is no explicit objective and more like a toy than a video game it has vast creative possibilities.
GD: How important is media literacy in children’s development?
James: I don’t really see it as any more or less important than them learning to tie their own shoelaces or write their
names. They’ve never known a world without these things so simply do not see technology in the same way we do. It’s not a discrete category for them, it’s just every day life.
GD: What aspects of early childhood development does The Land of Me focus on?
James: From a pedagogy perspective there is a lot at work in The Land of Me, especially with symbol manipulation and language. The core principles of creativity, communication and collaboration are present throughout but there are six chapters in total, each with a different theme: Shape, Size & Color, The World Outside, Making Things, Rhythm & Dance, Songs & Rhymes and Story Time. Each one also contains a raft of printable off-screen activities so that the creative journey can continue even when the computer is off. Recently a Mum emailed us to say that she was worried that the software wasn’t engaging enough because every time she played it with her son they had fun for only 10-15 minutes and then ended up on the kitchen floor drawing monsters. We were happy to tell her that’s exactly what we’re after! Ultimately we don’t want young children in front of the computer for extended periods and if 10 minutes is all it takes to inspire them to create their own visions of The Land of Me then all the better.
GD: How do you respond to people who say young children shouldn’t spend time in front of screens?
James: I know there’s some controversy about young children and technology, particularly screen-based media, but I think that it mostly comes down to common sense. I don’t agree that anyone can singularly dismiss an entire format in this way without taking into account what the content is and how it is used. It would be the same as saying all food is bad for you, regardless of ingredients and consumption. Technology is woven into the fabric of our lives and as such is no more or less important than clothing or buildings. It’s just there. However I have no doubt that it presents some very exciting potential benefits for learning and development, if used in the right way.
GD: How does The Land of Me support parents’ engagement with children?
James: The Land of Me is as much for parents as it is for the children. I think that’s why I’m confident that all the geek dads out there will love it. There’s something nostalgic and old fashioned about it. Lots of people have mentioned that it seems at once comforting and familiar. If we can get adults feeling like children again then we’re home and dry. The fact that you feel like you’re exploring a curious new place together really places the emphasis on shared discovery rather than some form of didactic instruction. There is so much to talk about on-screen and so much to question that it can’t fail to get your creative juices going.
The rest is here:
Review: Developmental Value in The Land of Me
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Tags: Beta, Child, children, color, content, development, games, Geek, inspiration, iPhone, kids, video-game |
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Family Footwear: These Merrells Have Merit
Author: Sriram Reddy
My family is a fairly active one, especially in the Spring through Fall seasons. We camp frequently and that involves plenty of hiking, wading through water, climbing and playing sports. We also like to take the kids on frequent outings while the weather’s nice and often as not, that involves walking. Whether strolling through the downtown of a city, tromping through a park or along a hiking trail, visiting the zoo, theme parks or a museum, there’s usually a lot of walking involved. And through the summer, we hit the beach at least once a week as well. Someone at Merrell has obviously read about our undertakings and saw that GeekDad has dabbled in footwear before, as they reached out and offered up some current footwear to put through its paces.
I was happy to give it a whirl. Our kids are pretty tough on shoes, especially my daughter Natasha, who has a well-earned reputation for tackling terrain that’s more difficult than necessary, combined with a fondness for water and picky fashion sense.
Merrell Waterpro Z-Rap for Kids
Natasha is also a vegetarian, so the Waterpro Z-Raps were a perfect choice. They drain easily when wet, they provided traction for clambering on rocks and climbing trees and they look smart. The mesh doesn’t just help water to drain faster, it also helps provide ventilation. They withstood a solid day of tromping around Canada’s Wonderland without a word of complaint, and that’s saying something. Slipping the shoes on and off was easy thanks to the elastic enclosure and best of all, Natasha embraced these shoes because anything resembling leather was synthetic. My wife is also on a “no leather” tear and she was extremely happy with the Waterpro Pandi shoes she received. She reports they are extremely comfortable for walking, as well as providing support on rocks and grip on slippery surfaces. They also include hydro drainage ports and a ventilated foot bed for quick drying after wading in the surf. And they are vegan friendly.
Merrell Women's Waterpro Pandi
I was sent a pair of Waterpro Tawas. While my Teva water sandals are quicker to put on and take off (snap buckles vs. laces on the Merrells), I’ve put the Waterpro Tawas through miles of concrete, gravel, grass, beach and some malls as well, not to mention a few casual football, baseball and soccer sessions and they’re currently my favorite, all purpose summer shoes. Well, I’m pretty fond of the Clash Chuck Taylors I scored for Father’s Day too, but those only come out for special occasions… Like the other Merrells we received, any leather used on the Waterpro Tawas is synthetic. They wash well, dry fast and still look virtually brand new. And I have to admit, I’m kind of partial to the funky orange and green color scheme. At $95 they aren’t unreasonable compared to other shoes in this class and I’ll likely buy another pair if/when I ever wear these ones out.
Merrell Men's Waterpro Tawas
Adult shoes are one thing -it’s not like I’m going to grow out of them, so they are a reasonable investment- but is it worth forking out $55 for a pair of kid’s shoes? The WaterPro Z-Raps will certainly outlast most kids’ use of them, but by the time they move on and grow out of them, I suspect the shoes will still be in pretty good shape. Give them a good wash and if you choose a fairly neutral color, you should be able to hand the shoes down to a sibling and get another full cycle out of them. They’re also good in terms of support, and as someone who’s spent more time than I’d like listening to kids complain about sore feet during a day of walking, the Merrells are probably worth it on that front alone. We’re heading off to Disney World for a few weeks shortly; that will be the ultimate test, but I suspect the shoes are up to it.
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Family Footwear: These Merrells Have Merit
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Ask GeekDad: Double Trouble
Author: Tech Blogger
Image: Dave Banks
We’re Having Twins: What Do I Do?
This week’s Ask GeekDad is a special “double trouble” edition from reader Mike. He’s expecting twins, and wants to know what he should keep in mind as he prepared for their arrival. Thankfully, Dave Banks–the father of multiples himself–has some great words of wisdom to share.
Remember, you can email us with your questions at AskGeekDad at geekdad dot com, or reach out to us on Twitter at @AskGeekDad! No question is too obscure, too curious, or unusual!
Image: Dave Banks
Mike: Hi GeekDad, I’ve been enjoying your blog for some time, even though I’m not yet a dad. However, that’s about to change. I found out recently that my wife and I are expecting twins in about 6 months. Since this is our first (and second) child we are not only having to learn about new baby products, but also about the specialized twin/multiple products. From what I’ve been able to gather, there’s a whole market segment for baby stuff related to twins/multiples. What kind of stuff should I pick up and what can I wait on? Also, anything geeky I should add to my shopping list?
GeekDad Dave Banks: First off, congratulations on the good news. Second, get some sleep now. You’re going to need it when your Luke and Leia are born. Having your first child is challenge enough – moreso when your first child is really more than one. I should know – about eight years ago, my wife and I had triplets. So let’s take a look at what should be on your baby registry and shopping list.
There are plenty of Web pages and magazine articles out there that outline what first time parents should be thinking about and it’s easy to get carried away with buying one (or two) of everything. But before you pick up that Louis Vuitton diaper bag, think about what you’ll need in the very beginning and fight the urge to pick up a walker, jumper or the Lego Space Shuttle until your kids are ready for them.
Certain items you need to have two of, like car seats and (eventually) high chairs. But others you can get away with just one. For instance, you’ll only need one changing table. And our kids shared a crib for the first few months. Some baby experts suggest parents of twins buy two of everything so they don’t fight. In our experience, if there’s only one, so what? It’s better (and less expensive) if your children learn to share. And you don’t even have to double-down on the essentials, a good rule for buying clothes, toys and bottles is to use a multiplier of 1.5. That will be more than enough for your kids. The exception is probably the onesie underwear and towels for mopping up faces and messes.
As far as twin-specific gear, there’s not a lot. You can buy identical clothes if you want to point out their shared DNA. And a two-seat stroller is a must for the times when mom or dad are on their own. Multiple-seat strollers come in two configurations – inline and side-by-side seating. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. The inline stroller is easier to use when navigating narrow sidewalks and aisles in stores. However the turning radius can be difficult and our kids in back were always leaning to the side so they could see what was in front of them. Side-by-side strollers have a wider footprint, so you’ll have a tougher time in narrow spaces, but your kids might be happier with the unobstructed view. The side-by-side ended up being our favorite.
An invaluable piece of equipment was a couple of Boppy-type pillows. These weren’t just valuable for feeding times, but also for support when holding your babies.
A funny thing we figured out is that you may wear out some equipment. After six months of changing diapers for our triplets (4,439 of them – I kept count), the diaper pail was no longer doing a very good job of containing the odors within. A closer (but not too much closer) inspection showed the seals were no longer tight. My wife got angry at the quality of what was a highly recommended diaper pail. I pointed out that we had essentially given the pail 18 months of use in half a year. We had to buy another. And speaking of diapers, it wouldn’t hurt to start buying some now. It’ll ease some financial strain down the road.
As far as geeky infant goods go, our good friends over at ThinkGeek have a whole crib full of great geeky toys, clothing and accessories. My favorite is their JetBib, for slightly older kids. As we pointed out earlier this year, there are a handful of iPhone apps to help you pick out names, time contractions and more.
The most common piece of electronics associated with newborns is the baby monitor, so here’s a chance to let your geek flag fly. If you are going to put your kids in separate rooms, make sure each monitor has a different frequency. If you live in an apartment complex or someplace where there is a lot of electronic interference, consider a set with DECT standards so you don’t pick up anything more than young Tiberius’ snoring. You can pick up a monitor with video, one that notices unusual movement in the crib or just abandon the baby monitor altogether as some parents choose to do. If you’re looking for a bare-bones approach, the Sony Baby Call gets good marks.
Finally, the single piece of newborn advice I like sharing with expecting parents is to pick up a copy of Dr. Marc Weissbluth’s Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. In my opinion, the best gift you can give your child is the ability to be a good sleeper. Not only will it make your children less fussy, it will give you the rest and energy it takes to raise your kids and do your job and everything else. This book was a must-have for us. Pick it up now and you will be very glad you did later.
Those are the broad strokes. Perhaps our readers can chime in with advice, as well. Good luck to you and your wife, Mike. And enjoy the fun times ahead!
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Ask GeekDad: Double Trouble
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Fibers That Can Hear and Sing Could Power Electronic Textiles
Author: Anthony Kristo
The clothing of the future could be more than just fashion. MIT researchers are working to develop fibers that can hear and produce sound, and someday those could take the form of wearable electronics.
“The ancients used clothes for the same reason that we do, which is thermal insulation and aesthetics,” Yoel Fink, associate professor of materials science and principal investigator at MIT’s Research Lab of Electronics, told Wired.com. “What we have done is start thinking how fibers go beyond that and change their properties.”
Fink and his team hope their latest research will result in fibers that can be fashioned into clothes capable of capturing speech, textiles that can measure blood flow in the capillaries or nets that can double as sound sensors.
“It’s a very significant breakthrough on the level of the material used and the structure that was fabricated,” says Ayman Abouraddy, a professor at the College of Optics & Photonics in the University of Central Florida.
“Line a whole wall with these fibers and you could get a very interesting surround-sound system,” says Abouraddy, who isn’t involved in the research.
Fibers, whether they are for clothing or telecommunications, have always been static, incapable of doing more than one thing: Hold fabric together, or transmit optical signals, for instance. The key to electronic textiles is fiber that can change its properties over a wide range of frequencies, says Fink.
The acoustic fibers have been created from a plastic called polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) that’s commonly used in microphones. The researchers tweaked the plastic to ensure its molecules are lopsided so all the fluorine atoms line up on one side and hydrogen atoms on the other. This asymmetry of the molecules makes the plastic piezoelectric.
Piezoelectricity is the key property here that allows the fibers to react to a range of frequencies, giving them the ability to function as both a microphone and a speaker.
“The important aspect of it is maintaining the crystalline form in the fiber,” says Abouraddy. “Usually the crystal melts if it is heated sufficiently, which happens when the fibers are being manufactured, but the new technique seems to have solved that problem.”
To manufacture the fibers, the piezoelectric molecules are all aligned in the same direction by applying an electric field that’s about 20 times as powerful as those that cause lightning during a thunderstorm.
So far, it has worked well enough that you can actually hear through the fibers. Researchers connected the fibers to a power supply and applied a current to make it vibrate at audible frequencies to generate sound.
The next major step will be to reduce the dimensions of the fiber so it can some day be woven into clothing.
“Right now the width of the fiber is around 2.5 mm, while in clothing today, the fibers are at around 50 microns,” says Abouraddy. “So they will have to reduce the width by a big magnitude.”
That’s one of the things that researchers will be working on over the next few years, says Fink. Eventually, he hopes, the manufacturing process will be perfected enough for the fibers to be affordable.
“Am I going to be able to sell this for a buck a meter in San Francisco soon? The answer is no,” says Fink. “But we should be able to get good economies of scale.”
See Also:
- Smart Textiles Blend LEDs, Circuits and Sensors
- To Charge your iPod, Plug in Your Jeans
- E-Fabrics Still Too Stiff to Wear
- Ntera Prints a Display on Almost Any Surface
Photo: Research Laboratory of Electronics at MIT/Greg Hren
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Fibers That Can Hear and Sing Could Power Electronic Textiles
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Tags: abouraddy, Clothing, college, fiber, fink, iPod, piezoelectric, r&d and inventions, Research, sound, Surface, University, yael |
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Top Ten Reasons That Geeks Should Love the Tour de France (Wayback Machine)
Author: Conrad Thomas
This Saturday, the 97th edition of the Tour de France starts in Rotterdam, kicking off three weeks of bicycle racing. Twenty-one teams of nine riders each will have to endure 3,600 kilometers of racing and 25 mountain passes to reach the finish line on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. It is an event full of incredible human achievement and endurance. But it’s also full of geeky goodness. I decided to update last year’s post encouraging you to enjoy the race.
Here are my top ten reasons why geeks should love the Tour de France:
Cheat the wind
10. Aerodynamics. During the three weeks of the Tour, the teams and their riders battle one another. But they also battle against air resistance. In a group of cyclists riding closely together, the rider in front is expending as much as 30% more energy than those behind him or her. That means that a rider doesn’t want to be out in front for long. Bicycling tactics call for a rider to let someone else lead for most of the race day, then come from behind to grab the win. The peloton forms as a way for the riders to share the work of cutting through the wind. A single cyclist out in front riding ahead of the peleton stands little chance of victory, faced with battling the wind alone. This is why breakaways rarely survive.
Follow me on Twitter
9. Twittering Cyclists. Many of the stars of the event are avid users of Twitter. Lance Armstrong (@lancearmstrong) even announced the birth of his son, Max, on Twitter and announced his upcoming (second) retirement on Twitter. Other Tour de France participants using Twitter include: Levi Leipheimer of Team Radio Shack (@Levi_Leipheimer), Cadel Evans of BMC Racing (@cadelofficial), Dave Zabriskie of Team Garmin (@dzabriskie), Christian Vande Velde of Team Garmin (@ChristianVDV), George Hincapie of BMC Racing (@ghincapie) [Mrs. GeekDoug's favorite], Johan Bruyneel, Manager of Team Radio Shack (@JohanBruyneel), and last year’s champion Alberto Contador (@albertocontador).
image by Fanny Schertzer (CC by sa 2.5)
8. The Team. Like any geek adventure, it’s not just about individual achievement. Sure the team leader gets the fame and glory, but it requires team work for victory. The domestiques help keep the leader safe, lead him in the wind so he can conserve his energy, ferry water bottles from the team car, and even sacrifice their bikes. Each team also has a large group of mechanics who keep everything moving smoothly, including quick wheel changes for flat tires and bike changes after a crash.
Unfortunately, there is no team time trial in the 2010 edition of the race after its brief return last year. The team time trial is the ultimate combination of teamwork, aerodynamics, and outfits. The team suits up in aero helmets, skinsuits, and special time trial bikes to minimize wind resistance. (Remember, its all about aerodynamics.) In true team fashion, it is not the time of the first cyclist across, but the time of the fifth man across the finish line that applies to all members of the team.
![image by renschmensch [with permission]](http://www.wired.com/geekdad/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/didi-258x300.jpg "didi")
image by renschmensch
7. The Fans. There are plenty of fans lining the race course, especially as the race cuts through cities and towns. Since the race cuts the town in half, its hard to do much except watch the race. For years it was just fans from each country supporting their countrymen and waiving their flags along the course. Then fans started lining the mountain courses, where the riders have to slow down to deal with the steep inclines. With increased television coverage, fans realized that a crazy costume might get you on worldwide coverage for a few seconds. Didi Senft, who dresses up in a red devil costume, was one of the first costumed spectators. You will see him often. The “Schlugs” line the race course, camping for days in prime locations. There are also the “Schmenges,” Belgian or Dutch cycling fans who end up rather intoxicated at the top of mountain passes.
image from bicycle.com
6. Wind Tunnels. Since aerodynamics play a key role in the Tour, many professional cyclists spend time in a wind tunnel to hone their position for maximum efficiency. The wind is as much the opponent as the other cyclists. Positioning is extremely important for a cyclist to be able to maintain a low drag while still producing sufficient power. Since bicycle aerodynamics are very specific to each different rider’s body size and type, a position that works well for one may not work well for another. Its not just the rider and bicycle frame. They test the water bottles, wheels, helmets, handlebars, and clothing. They even designed a special pocket on the back of the jersey to hold the racing number instead of clipping it on. Watch Lance Armstrong in the Wind Tunnel.
image from Versus
5. Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen. These two Brits have been the voice of professional cycling for years. Expect each day to be full of wonderful quips like “He’s really having to dig deeply into the suitcase of courage,” “Carnage is the only way to describe this ascent,” “The devil has joined in and that’s never a good sign”, and “He’s dancing on his pedals.” The Liggett-isms do tend to carry over from year to year. You might want to play Phil and Paul Bingo to help follow along with commentary. Kidding aside, I think they are the best announcing team in all of professional sports. They offer an encyclopedic knowledge of the race, the riders and the course.
4. The Clothing. Anyone who has seen an amateur cyclist cruising down the street knows that cyclists wear special clothes. During a race, there are special jerseys which denote a rider’s status. The leader in the time competition wears the yellow jersey, the leader in the sprint competition wears a green jersey, the king of the mountains wears a polka dot jersey, and the best young rider gets a white jersey. There are also special purpose outfits, such as the time trial kit. In the time trial, racers compete against the clock (either as an individual as a team) and clothe themselves in the most aerodynamic way they can, with special helmets to cut through the wind. (Remember, its all about aerodynamics.)
image by Jarrett Campbell (CC BY 2.0)
3. The Countryside. Over its three weeks, the race winds its way across the French countryside and into neighboring countries. Race coverage is full of helicopter shots, highlighting the racers, farms, castles, rivers and panoramas. Many of the race days are visually stunning. The mountains often loom above, some still speckled with snow. Even in the heat of the summer, French farmers build elaborate monuments to the race as it passes by their farms. Some displays are simple collections of hay bales. Others are elaborate moving displays of bicycle action. There will also be plenty of helicopter shots of medieval castles, cathedrals, and Roman ruins. Part of the Tour’s magic lies in the changing backdrops to the action, with villages competing to devise the most elaborate welcome signs.
image by Trek
2. The Equipment. The Tour de France bicycles are some of the most high-tech equipment used in any human powered sport. Titanium, carbon fiber, and high tensile steel alloys are routinely used for bicycle parts and frames. Lance Armstrong proclaimed in the title of one his books that It’s Not About the Bike. The bikes are still very cool, being the product of intensive development. Many bicycles are wind tunnel tested to maximize aerodynamics. (Remember that it’s all about aerodynamics.) The bikes for the time trial days of the race, where the cyclists rides against the clock (either alone or with their teams), are especially odd looking. This bike bears little resemblance to the geeklets’ boulevard cruisers.
Photo courtesy of CSE Cycling
1. Lance Armstrong. He is back this year, looking for another victory after “retiring” in 2005. What could be a geekier team than one sponsored by Radio Shack. Clearly he is a tremendous athlete, which would place him in the jock category. But Lance has geek credentials. I already mentioned his avid use of Twitter. The silicone cause bracelet phenomenon started when Lance convinced Nike to sell the bright yellow LiveStrong bracelets to raise money to cure cancer. The original target was 25 million; to date, Nike and LiveStrong have sold over 70 million. During the Tour of California last year, his first race after un-retiring, he had two special numbers on the frame of his bike: 1247 and 27.5. The first is the number of days that he had been retired and the second, shocking number represented the 27.5 million people who had died of cancer during his retirement. Lance, after all, is a man who cheated his own death, having survived testicular cancer.
The Kids. I don’t want to forget the kids, since GeekDad is the parenting blog of Wired. My geeklets like watching bike racing. The bright colors, incredible action and great scenery keep their attention. They should be entranced by the vivid images and dulcet tones of Phil and Paul.
Watch. There is live and delayed coverage of the Tour de France on the Versus TV network.
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Top Ten Reasons That Geeks Should Love the Tour de France (Wayback Machine)
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Tags: Air, France, lance armstrong, Mountain, mountains, race, Street, team astana, twitter |
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Top Ten Reasons That Geeks Should Love the Tour de France (Wayback Machine)
Author: Sriram Reddy
This Saturday, the 97th edition of the Tour de France starts in Rotterdam, kicking off three weeks of bicycle racing. Twenty-one teams of nine riders each will have to endure 3,600 kilometers of racing and 25 mountain passes to reach the finish line on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. It is an event full of incredible human achievement and endurance. But it’s also full of geeky goodness. I decided to update last year’s post encouraging you to enjoy the race.
Here are my top ten reasons why geeks should love the Tour de France:
Cheat the wind
10. Aerodynamics. During the three weeks of the Tour, the teams and their riders battle one another. But they also battle against air resistance. In a group of cyclists riding closely together, the rider in front is expending as much as 30% more energy than those behind him or her. That means that a rider doesn’t want to be out in front for long. Bicycling tactics call for a rider to let someone else lead for most of the race day, then come from behind to grab the win. The peloton forms as a way for the riders to share the work of cutting through the wind. A single cyclist out in front riding ahead of the peleton stands little chance of victory, faced with battling the wind alone. This is why breakaways rarely survive.
Follow me on Twitter
9. Twittering Cyclists. Many of the stars of the event are avid users of Twitter. Lance Armstrong (@lancearmstrong) even announced the birth of his son, Max, on Twitter and announced his upcoming (second) retirement on Twitter. Other Tour de France participants using Twitter include: Levi Leipheimer of Team Radio Shack (@Levi_Leipheimer), Cadel Evans of BMC Racing (@cadelofficial), Dave Zabriskie of Team Garmin (@dzabriskie), Christian Vande Velde of Team Garmin (@ChristianVDV), George Hincapie of BMC Racing (@ghincapie) [Mrs. GeekDoug's favorite], Johan Bruyneel, Manager of Team Radio Shack (@JohanBruyneel), and last year’s champion Alberto Contador (@albertocontador).
image by Fanny Schertzer (CC by sa 2.5)
8. The Team. Like any geek adventure, it’s not just about individual achievement. Sure the team leader gets the fame and glory, but it requires team work for victory. The domestiques help keep the leader safe, lead him in the wind so he can conserve his energy, ferry water bottles from the team car, and even sacrifice their bikes. Each team also has a large group of mechanics who keep everything moving smoothly, including quick wheel changes for flat tires and bike changes after a crash.
Unfortunately, there is no team time trial in the 2010 edition of the race after its brief return last year. The team time trial is the ultimate combination of teamwork, aerodynamics, and outfits. The team suits up in aero helmets, skinsuits, and special time trial bikes to minimize wind resistance. (Remember, its all about aerodynamics.) In true team fashion, it is not the time of the first cyclist across, but the time of the fifth man across the finish line that applies to all members of the team.
image by renschmensch
7. The Fans. There are plenty of fans lining the race course, especially as the race cuts through cities and towns. Since the race cuts the town in half, its hard to do much except watch the race. For years it was just fans from each country supporting their countrymen and waiving their flags along the course. Then fans started lining the mountain courses, where the riders have to slow down to deal with the steep inclines. With increased television coverage, fans realized that a crazy costume might get you on worldwide coverage for a few seconds. Didi Senft, who dresses up in a red devil costume, was one of the first costumed spectators. You will see him often. The “Schlugs” line the race course, camping for days in prime locations. There are also the “Schmenges,” Belgian or Dutch cycling fans who end up rather intoxicated at the top of mountain passes.
image from bicycle.com
6. Wind Tunnels. Since aerodynamics play a key role in the Tour, many professional cyclists spend time in a wind tunnel to hone their position for maximum efficiency. The wind is as much the opponent as the other cyclists. Positioning is extremely important for a cyclist to be able to maintain a low drag while still producing sufficient power. Since bicycle aerodynamics are very specific to each different rider’s body size and type, a position that works well for one may not work well for another. Its not just the rider and bicycle frame. They test the water bottles, wheels, helmets, handlebars, and clothing. They even designed a special pocket on the back of the jersey to hold the racing number instead of clipping it on. Watch Lance Armstrong in the Wind Tunnel.
image from Versus
5. Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen. These two Brits have been the voice of professional cycling for years. Expect each day to be full of wonderful quips like “He’s really having to dig deeply into the suitcase of courage,” “Carnage is the only way to describe this ascent,” “The devil has joined in and that’s never a good sign”, and “He’s dancing on his pedals.” The Liggett-isms do tend to carry over from year to year. You might want to play Phil and Paul Bingo to help follow along with commentary. Kidding aside, I think they are the best announcing team in all of professional sports. They offer an encyclopedic knowledge of the race, the riders and the course.
4. The Clothing. Anyone who has seen an amateur cyclist cruising down the street knows that cyclists wear special clothes. During a race, there are special jerseys which denote a rider’s status. The leader in the time competition wears the yellow jersey, the leader in the sprint competition wears a green jersey, the king of the mountains wears a polka dot jersey, and the best young rider gets a white jersey. There are also special purpose outfits, such as the time trial kit. In the time trial, racers compete against the clock (either as an individual as a team) and clothe themselves in the most aerodynamic way they can, with special helmets to cut through the wind. (Remember, its all about aerodynamics.)
image by Jarrett Campbell (CC BY 2.0)
3. The Countryside. Over its three weeks, the race winds its way across the French countryside and into neighboring countries. Race coverage is full of helicopter shots, highlighting the racers, farms, castles, rivers and panoramas. Many of the race days are visually stunning. The mountains often loom above, some still speckled with snow. Even in the heat of the summer, French farmers build elaborate monuments to the race as it passes by their farms. Some displays are simple collections of hay bales. Others are elaborate moving displays of bicycle action. There will also be plenty of helicopter shots of medieval castles, cathedrals, and Roman ruins. Part of the Tour’s magic lies in the changing backdrops to the action, with villages competing to devise the most elaborate welcome signs.
image by Trek
2. The Equipment. The Tour de France bicycles are some of the most high-tech equipment used in any human powered sport. Titanium, carbon fiber, and high tensile steel alloys are routinely used for bicycle parts and frames. Lance Armstrong proclaimed in the title of one his books that It’s Not About the Bike. The bikes are still very cool, being the product of intensive development. Many bicycles are wind tunnel tested to maximize aerodynamics. (Remember that it’s all about aerodynamics.) The bikes for the time trial days of the race, where the cyclists rides against the clock (either alone or with their teams), are especially odd looking. This bike bears little resemblance to the geeklets’ boulevard cruisers.
Photo courtesy of CSE Cycling
1. Lance Armstrong. He is back this year, looking for another victory after “retiring” in 2005. What could be a geekier team than one sponsored by Radio Shack. Clearly he is a tremendous athlete, which would place him in the jock category. But Lance has geek credentials. I already mentioned his avid use of Twitter. The silicone cause bracelet phenomenon started when Lance convinced Nike to sell the bright yellow LiveStrong bracelets to raise money to cure cancer. The original target was 25 million; to date, Nike and LiveStrong have sold over 70 million. During the Tour of California last year, his first race after un-retiring, he had two special numbers on the frame of his bike: 1247 and 27.5. The first is the number of days that he had been retired and the second, shocking number represented the 27.5 million people who had died of cancer during his retirement. Lance, after all, is a man who cheated his own death, having survived testicular cancer.
The Kids. I don’t want to forget the kids, since GeekDad is the parenting blog of Wired. My geeklets like watching bike racing. The bright colors, incredible action and great scenery keep their attention. They should be entranced by the vivid images and dulcet tones of Phil and Paul.
Watch. There is live and delayed coverage of the Tour de France on the Versus TV network.
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Top Ten Reasons That Geeks Should Love the Tour de France (Wayback Machine)
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Smart Textiles Blend LEDs, Circuits and Sensors
Author: Antonio Pierce
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The fabric of the future won’t be just plain chiffon, silk or cotton. Instead electroluminescent material, microprocessors and LEDs may be woven together with clothing fibers to create smart textiles.
“Clothing can be considered a second skin and by implementing technology in it, you are bringing it into your intimate space,” says Nicky Assmann, an e-textile designer whose work was part of a recent exhibition in the Netherlands. “You are not just carrying technology like a laptop or an iPhone, but wearing it constantly.”
The exhibition, Pretty Smart Textiles, which closed last week, gave a glimpse into what happens when technology meets fashion. Among the exhibits were a dress made entirely of circuit boards that could also be used to generate music, a garment that when worn takes the sound of a heartbeat and other sounds from the body and remixes it into music, and a trenchcoat that reads fabric punch cards and tells stories.
Electronic textiles are outgrowing their geeky reputation, says Melissa Coleman, who with Dorith Sjardijn curated the exhibtion.
“The open source hardware movement has allowed for quicker and easier development of electronics and made it accessible to artists and designers,” says Coleman. “The result is that smart textile applications have become more interesting conceptually and aesthetically.”
The exhibition, which ended last week, featured 16 works and seven interactive samples.
Most of the artists who showed their work were women. “Electronic textiles appeal more to women than men,” says Sjardijn. “Women who are already in technology find it a nice way to combine the stuff that they find appealing with the more clinical world of technology and programming.”
A Musical Circuit Dress
A dress with 35 old circuit boards stitched together is not for everyone. But Nicky Assmann, who built the dress over a four month period, says she chose circuit boards as the fabric for her dress because she liked their look.
“There’s a certain aesthetic about them — they have many details and are very systematic, like a grid or a city map,” she says.
The circuit dress is not just clothing but also a musical instrument. The dress is based on the idea of circuit bending, which involves deliberately short-circuiting electronic musical devices to get unexpected noise.
Twelve coils are incorporated into the dress, each of which is played by connecting it to one another through copper finger plates. The musical composition results as the fingers explore the dress. There are two speakers on the front of the dress, and the entire dress runs on batteries.
The straps on the dress are made from electric cables that are are used for rewiring the circuit-bended board from the back to the coils to the front. “It’s very functional,” says Assmann, since it solved the problem of where to leave the wires.
Overall, the dress weighs about 20 pounds. Assmann says if she’s practicing for a performance, she can’t wear the dress for more than hour because the straps hurt her shoulder.
Ultimately, the idea of the musical circuit dress is to display what many people consider ugly when it comes to technology: the innards of a device with its circuit boards, the wires and the chips. Assmann, an artist who’s studying for her graduate degree in Music at the Royal Conservatory and Academy in Hague, says the circuit dress put an aesthetic that’s normally hidden out in the front.
“The unwearability of the dress defines its performance,” says Assmann.
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Smart Textiles Blend LEDs, Circuits and Sensors
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Tags: art, body, Clothing, dorith, iPhone, Laptop, melissa-coleman, miscellaneous, netherlands, Open Source, Phone, Space, Speaker, SPL |
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