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Eleksen Introduces Electro Fabric
DigitalDame2 writes "Eleksen, a small UK-based firm is introducing electronic fabric, essentially carbon-embedded nylon sandwiched between layers of nylon mesh that, when a milliamps charge is passed through it, can recognize touch, pressure and even the direction and path of a stroke. This thin, flexible, and washable fabric connects to a small 8-bit processor, which then can be connected to a standard electronic device like an iPod. Eleksen company executives said the washable fabric can also withstand extreme pressure; they've rolled a car over it without any ill effects."
I reckon a lot of "amatour" robots will do one of senses much, much better...
One that hath name thou can not otter
Eleksen company executives said the washable fabric can also withstand extreme pressure; they've rolled a car over it without any ill effects. ...with someone wearing the suit at the time? Mmmm, not so much. ;)
I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate.
Pure and simple.
That or DDR is really going to become fanatical
"There are no facts, only interpretations." --Friedrich Nietzsche.
and go straight to the source
Eleksen is the world's only supplier of integrated fabric switching and sensing
solutions.
http://www.eleksen.com/
If this works out like it seems, the sensation of touch will be a big boon to robotics for hobbyists as well as for NASA and other space going enterprises. Touch is one of those things that makes a REALLY big difference in how robots do things. Simple things like flipping a light switch or tightening a bolt use touch, and make them easily done.
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they've rolled a car over it without any ill effects
So what did the I-pod select then? "Under pressure"? Something from the Crash Test Dummies?
~~~~~~~
"You are not remembered for doing what is expected of you." - Atul Chitnis
So now to drag around very large images on my screen, I stroke myself!
Well I tried to think of something negative about this, but in all honestly it seems to be just awesome!
The company seems legitimate, and they actually have the product in use in retail products already... And they provide an API for programming the chips yourself.
This sounds so cool, I'm going to try to have to get one of those jackets, or some sample of the system for myself!
Big ones, small ones, some as big as yer 'ead!
Give 'em a twist, a flick o' the wrist...
Eleksen company executives said the washable fabric can also withstand extreme pressure; they've rolled a car over it without any ill effects - this is unacceptable! I am not going to buy any of these products until they can withstand being rolled over by a tank. And what is it with the primitive 8 bit processor? I imagine it doesn't even need a decent fan to cool down. I demand a dual core CPU so that it will keep me warm during those long and cold Canadian winter nights. Since the batteries for such a system would have to be carried in 2 suitcases, while using the CPU at full power, I imagine it might be a good idea to add a propeller-hat with a generator to the entire ensemble. But make the propeller blades bigger, so that noone will think that it is a stupid outfit and won't try to beat us up. :)
You can't handle the truth.
Uh huh. What's the pressure in a typical car tires? Usually around 30psi, right? And as it turns out, the air pressure in the tire is about the same as the pressure between the tire surface and the ground it touches. The tire spreads out until it has enough square inches in contact with the ground that the 30psi x the number of i^2 equals the weight of the car. It MUST be that way, because it's impossible for the air in the tire to exert more pressure on the contact region than it does on the rest of the tire, and the rigidity of the sidewalls is not enough to contribute significant support.
So the fabric withstood 30psi. And not supporting that pressure in free air like the tire has to do, but simply squeezed against a supporting surface. "Extreme pressure" my ass.
I beg to differ :)
"After the test Bender complained about having a sore back but company executives attribute it to a ploy for more alcohol... Company executives said the steamroller suffered no complaints either and that she would be happy to do it again. The car was unavailable for comment at the time."
The user interface of iPods are very well-designed. It would be a waste and a hassle to bypass the sleek iPod interface and control the iPod through the jacket. Wouldn't it be easier to just take out the iPod and meddle with it?
What if you're skiing/snowboarding, for example, and wearing gloves that make your fingers 2" in diameter (and why can't someone make a pair of gloves that keeps your fingers warm but doesn't make you look like you're wearing those dorky "Hulk Hands" toys?)? In that situation, just unzipping your pocket to remove the iPod can be a challenge...
A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing -- Emo Phillips
There are people with spinal cord and brain injuries that could really benefit from this. People with trauma recovery with no sensation that don't realize an appendage is bumping into something. It's not quite like having skin with nerve endings, rather it's an early alert that senses something that you either can't, or can't *yet*.
In another way, it's also a way to help people recover from muscular atrophy, sensing leg movements, or arm movements. It can tell you when something's too tight, or incorrectly applied. Think physical therapy, or improving your golf swing, football kick, or reducing RSI.
Although I don't understand its resolution capability, it could also be used for carpet-fabric that could tell people when someone's at the door, or that someone has been in a room, or that the person weighs 100kg, etc.
Use your imagination beyond sex. I find this fairly fascinating.
---- Teach Peace. It's Cheaper Than War.
But what if it is shiny or has blue LEDs?
lol: You see no door there!
In that situation, just unzipping your pocket to remove the iPod can be a challenge...
I've never had any problems unzipping my "pocket" to get to my "iPod," regardless of weather!
They may have pills for that though.
Hmm... I can just envision the streets of NY filled with people wandering around all of whom are touching their clothes as if they were giving signals to the pitcher at a major league baseball game....
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