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element14 Gets into the Fabric of Technology with its Latest Challenge
LONDON, June 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
Engineers to create "wearable technology" with new Adafruit FLORA kit
As one of the hottest topics in global technology and with the first products starting
to appear on the market, element14 is challenging engineers and developers to design and
develop their own piece of wearable technology. The global competition will focus entirely
on technology integrated within clothing and wearable accessories, and aims to encourage a
deeper level of integration than those demonstrated by first-generation wearables such as
the Pebble watch and Google Glass.
element14 have selected Adafruit's FLORA kit to provide the computing platform for the
challenge. The FLORA allows designers to create products that are far more integrated and
less expensive and opens up wearable technology to a wider group of users where potential
designs could include a tracking device for the elderly or vulnerable, a cycling jacket
with built-in visibility sensing lights or gloves that operate as hand-worn data
terminals.
The FLORA is the size of a man's watch face and designed to be literally sewn into an
item of clothing or fabric accessory using a special steel wire to run the circuitry
within the seams. It is programmed via a built in USB and supports USB HID (human
interface device) so it can act like a mouse, keyboard or to attach directly to mobile
phones to connect to other users or remote data.
element14 is calling for engineers and makers to submit their basic ideas here
[http://www.element14.com/wearables ], from which five will be chosen and given a free
FLORA kit to develop their project fully with support from the element14 community and
other Arduino developers. The ultimate winner, to be announced in September, will be
judged by a panel from Adafruit and the Community on the potential of the prototype to be
practical to the point where it can be developed into genuine and mainstream products.
The Adafruit FLORA kits can be purchased in the US from Newark.com
[http://www.newark.com/adafruit-industries/1090/flora-gps-starter-pack/dp/53W5715?in_merch=Popular%20Products?CMP=PRR-GLO-13-0021 ]
and in Europe from Farnell.com
[http://uk.farnell.com/adafruit-industries/143/tweet-a-watt-starter-pack-power/dp/2296137?CMP=PRR-GLO-13-0021 ]
. To find out more, or submit an idea, head over to the dedicated page
on the element14 Community at http://www.element14.com/wearables.
"Newark element14 is a high-service distributor of technology products and solutions
for electronic system design, maintenance and repair including an extensive range of
development kits, capacitors [http://www.newark.com/capacitors ], resistors, connectors,
switches / relays, semi conductors and cables."
Contact details for editorial enquiries:
Jen Cooke
European PR Manager
Tel: +44(0)113-3484904
Email: jcooke@premierfarnell.com
Newark element14
element14 Gets into the Fabric of Technology with its Latest Challenge
LONDON, June 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
Engineers to create "wearable technology" with new Adafruit FLORA kit
As one of the hottest topics in global technology and with the first products starting
to appear on the market, element14 is challenging engineers and developers to design and
develop their own piece of wearable technology. The global competition will focus entirely
on technology integrated within clothing and wearable accessories, and aims to encourage a
deeper level of integration than those demonstrated by first-generation wearables such as
the Pebble watch and Google Glass.
element14 have selected Adafruit's FLORA kit to provide the computing platform for the
challenge. The FLORA allows designers to create products that are far more integrated and
less expensive and opens up wearable technology to a wider group of users where potential
designs could include a tracking device for the elderly or vulnerable, a cycling jacket
with built-in visibility sensing lights or gloves that operate as hand-worn data
terminals.
The FLORA is the size of a man's watch face and designed to be literally sewn into an
item of clothing or fabric accessory using a special steel wire to run the circuitry
within the seams. It is programmed via a built in USB and supports USB HID (human
interface device) so it can act like a mouse, keyboard or to attach directly to mobile
phones to connect to other users or remote data.
element14 is calling for engineers and makers to submit their basic ideas here
[http://www.element14.com/wearables ], from which five will be chosen and given a free
FLORA kit to develop their project fully with support from the element14 community and
other Arduino developers. The ultimate winner, to be announced in September, will be
judged by a panel from Adafruit and the Community on the potential of the prototype to be
practical to the point where it can be developed into genuine and mainstream products.
The Adafruit FLORA kits can be purchased in the US from Newark.com
[http://www.newark.com/adafruit-industries/1090/flora-gps-starter-pack/dp/53W5715?in_merch=Popular%20Products?CMP=PRR-GLO-13-0021 ]
and in Europe from Farnell.com
[http://uk.farnell.com/adafruit-industries/143/tweet-a-watt-starter-pack-power/dp/2296137?CMP=PRR-GLO-13-0021 ]
. To find out more, or submit an idea, head over to the dedicated page
on the element14 Community at http://www.element14.com/wearables.
"Newark element14 is a high-service distributor of technology products and solutions
for electronic system design, maintenance and repair including an extensive range of
development kits, capacitors [http://www.newark.com/capacitors ], resistors, connectors,
switches / relays, semi conductors and cables."
Contact details for editorial enquiries:
Jen Cooke
European PR Manager
Tel: +44(0)113-3484904
Email: jcooke@premierfarnell.com
Newark element14