Wearable technology

[Jazzy]

The Machina Midi (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) jacket is the result of a successful Kickstarter campaign that ended in February 2013 and raised $77,000.

Linda Machina is one of the co-founders.

The Machina Midi Jacket is designed to turn the body into a musical instrument.

"We went to a concert and saw a guy just making music through his computer," she says.

"We wanted to change that. We wanted to bring the act of performance back to life by having the musician use his body as an interface."

Embedded in the fabric are four flexible sensors which can detect the position of your fingers, an accelerometer which tracks the movement of your arm, a joystick and four push buttons.

The sensors and buttons can be configured anyway the wearer wants. It is linked to an interface app either on their computer or mobile device.

"The accelerometers make using the jacket a different type of interface for composing music, adding kinetic capabilities. The jacket will be a platform.

"This is just the initial functionality, but we're creating a hack store that will allow users to upload their own presets and their own programs, so if you want to use it to control your iPod, to mix video, add extra sensors, or hack it to interact with a Kinect, you'll be able to do it.

What do you think?

Would you want one of these?

 

[DrLeftover]

I don't even wear a watch and the cell phone I own has been obsolete for at least two years and is, even now, at 'end of life' and the carrier says I need to replace it.

oh well

 

[Crusader]

A smart watch and Google Glass could be useful but I'm not convinced yet.

 

[Jazzy]

@KaPOWitsCHRIS: What do you think about the jacket? I think it would go good with your hat!

 

[Crusader]

Perhaps

 

[Evil Eye]

While I think it's an interesting idea, I wouldn't want one