At the end of Week 2, after a rough workshop with IDEO, I came to the realization that my ability to lead and work with international teams needs some work.

After a full day of lectures and yoga I attended a talk by Scott Summit from http://www.summitid.com. I was wowed by the beautiful 3D printed prosthetics for amputees. The limbs are created by scanning a person's un-injured body part and then that data is used to print a highly personalized prosthetic limb. Talk about on-demand body parts! 

Terracycle, a company specializing in eco-friendly products, opened their Green Up Shop at the Port Authority in NYC. The products don’t incorporate circuits, sensors, or motorized parts, but they can provide you with some nifty ideas for upcycled materials and sustainable textiles. The creators of the products make sustainability look easy. Surely, you can step it up a notch and integrate some wearable tech!

Christina Liedtke's fabulous couture gown is made from M&M wrappers.

The pop up shop was supposed to end on May 1st, but it’s sticking around till May 21st. You’ll find vinyl billboard messenger bags, sustainable activewear, candy wrapper couture gowns, and a ton more upcycled stuff than you can shake a soldering iron at. Head over and grab some eye-opening inspiration. If you’re not in NYC, visit the Green Up Shop website (http://greenupshop.terracycle.net.

One of the things I love about the online crafting and the DIY community is our ability to help each other. Right now, a good friend is working on an amazing project to make an open source jacquard loom. What this means is that the software and hardware to control the loom will be designed for the general public and free for all. This technology can help craftsman in developing countries, give artists and local fashion designers control over their own woven designs, and give educational institutions the ability to afford and customize a loom to their needs. This idea is revolutionary.

Be a part of the OSLOOM revolution! Go to Kickstarter, and support OSLOOM. There are some really great prizes for donating to this cause. (more after the break)

According to their maker, Becky Stern, these designs are called Body-Technology Interfaces and they are created for “privacy, warmth, and concentration in public spaces.” I understand that these designs are supposed to be funny commentary on how our computer devices are taking over our lives. I'm just not sure if these cozy techno-covers are a serious DIY project for the geek on the go, or if they would be better displayed in a WTF (What The Frank) technology post. I leave it for you to decide.

Hi Kittens!  I am getting ready for the Smart Fabrics Conference where I am holding a workshop in DIY electronic craft. This is a big event and I have not had time to post. Hopefully this DIY and video of the tilt/touch switch that I made for the workshop will keep you from having Switch withdrawal.

Here is how it works: The string of beads in the middle has a conductive bead on the end. This bead carries the power and as it turns and moves on the conductive fabric pieces the corresponding LEDs light up. Simple but powerful! What can you make with this idea? 

Materials:

• conductive fabric
• LED Sequins
• regular craft beads
• conductive thread
• 3V battery holder
• one large silver bead.

NOTE: In the video I had small silver beads and they didn't work too well, I added the larger one later.

Fabric Tilt Switch from iHeartSwitch on Vimeo.

As promised, here is a more robust update to the Rodarte's light-up heels that was posted two weeks ago. I used the LED sequins from Aniomagic, you can find them here. The battery pack is from Switch Craft, the materials below account for this. You can use a different battery holder if you like, both  Aniomagic and Lilypad's battery holders work well.

Syuzi Pakhchyan of Fashioning Technology and I are joining forces at SXSW and hosting a session called “Duh…It’s Like Tech for Girls <3.” Here is the information: 

Duh ... It's Like Tech for Girls <3

SXSW Interactive, Austin, TX

Monday, March 15, 11am, ACC 7

Make a fun glow-in-the-dark writeable wall! PaulBo over at FangleTronics has a really simple DIY for making a glow in the dark wall you can write on. The wall is made by adding a few coats of Glow-In-The-Dark Brush-On Paint and any type of light or LED pen will light up the wall. This is a seriously fun project for the whole family and FangieTronics does a great job of explaining how to make it.

For those without electronic skills,  purchase an LED light pen or LED key light to use to write on the walls instead of making one from scratch.

via: Makezine