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  • ChroMorphous: New Color Changing Smart Fabric Controlled by an App

    ChroMorphous: New Color Changing Smart Fabric Controlled by an App

    The next generation of wearable tech is upon us in the form of ChroMorphous, thanks to the hard work of researchers at the University of Central Florida. Their new battery-powered wearable tech changes color when turned on, and can be controlled directly from a phone app. Their color-changing clothes may just represent the future of clothing! If this sounds like a sci-fi novel to you, you’re not alone. 

    How Does ChroMorphous Work? 

    The tech, which is still in the early stages, incorporates a unique combination of micro-wires and color-changing pigments powered by electrical signals. The researchers call it ChroMorphous. The chameleonic fabric is somewhat dense and thick, with comparable texture to canvas, making it somewhat bulky.  

    The researchers are working on making the tech smaller and softer, however, with intentions of mass producing the stylish technology. This technology would likely be tremendously popular! Rather than buying different clothing to match with each other, you could just buy the styles you like and set the color on the fly! 

    Other Applications 

    Technology like this is likely to become the norm in the near future. At Ohio State University, researchers have created similar technology with micro-antennae capable of sending and receiving signals from smart devices. Such technology would allow for application in more than just fashion.  

    Virtual reality games, for instance, could make use of the tech to track users. Smart home devices could identify users and be controlled via body gestures with this kind of technology. Clothes themselves could become smart devices: synching with your home’s virtual assistant and updating your clothing on the fly.  

    The possibilities are really endless! 

  • Snapchat Spectacles V2 May Be the Wearable Tech You’ve Been Looking For

    Snapchat Spectacles V2 May Be the Wearable Tech You’ve Been Looking For

    On Friday, Snapchat debuted their new (and improved) Spectacles, a pair of sunglasses with built-in recording equipment. The glasses are a huge improvement over the first generation of Spectacles, which ended up being disappointing both to consumers and the social media company. But can Snapchat finally break the Google Glass curse with Spectacles V2?

    Improved Features

    The most immediately noticeable improvement over the V1 model is the design. Larger but lighter, the new Spectacles come in black, ruby, or blue frames with a variety of lens options, including prescription lenses with partner Lensabl. The new model also ditches the goofy-looking yellow circle around the camera, replacing it with a more subtle ring that lights up when you start recording.

    Spectacles record video and take photos in HD, and it’s much easier now to upload them to your phone. Using a Bluetooth connection, the syncing process is roughly 4 times faster than the first generation of Spectacles. Based on feedback from customers, Snapchat has also upgraded the new model to record underwater—although users probably shouldn’t try snorkeling with them. Save that for your GoPro.

    Streamlined Sales

    Snapchat claims that one of the reasons sales weren’t as robust as predicted for the V1 model was because they were available through too many retailers. This time, instead of elaborate vending machines, Snapchat is only selling Spectacles through their app. The company had to take a massive loss due to unsold units of the V1; although more than 200,000 people bought a pair of the glasses, Snapchat seriously overestimated the demand.

    Better Content

    Snapchat hopes to hold on to its user base and lure in new customers with Spectacles. The struggling company has lost ground to Instagram and other social media platforms. With the launch of the updated glasses, Snapchat is wisely reaching out to popular users and professional photographers to generate top-quality content. Most customers who purchased the V1 model ended up no longer using the glasses after about a month, so Snapchat needs to prove that these are more than just a novelty.

    Privacy Concerns

    One possible downside to the updated design of Spectacles V2 is that they look more like regular sunglasses. People like to know that they’re being photographed or recorded, and with a stealthy HD camera poised to capture images anytime, anywhere, you may not realize that the Spectacles are recording. We’ll see how—or if—Snapchat addresses these concerns in the future.