Persistence-of-Vision POV

Tested the POV project that has been demo'ed in class. Being very clumsy in sewing, sewing the Lilypad USB neatly takes up quite a bit of the time!

Sew slowly....

Still doesn't look too neat

at least they are somewhat in a line!

Okay...

I used the demo code for text and here's my text message "LOVE!" I wonder why the bottom rows not always visible, but I guess that's quite ok too, people can try and guess what message I'm trying to send? [laughs]

POV is such a fun thing to do, but I do thing it needs a certain enhancements and improvement. The first thing I would improve is how we can view it. Now I'm just waving my device so others could see the message. I may make it attach to another wave device or a message board that can move my POV device from left-right or vice versa so the message can be viewed easily without someone waving it manually. I would also attach a little pouch for the battery so it can hold the battery and not dangling around.

Perhaps I could make a toggle that I could press so it can change message shown on the device too, so by this I can toggle what message I wanted to show, or even a button to press, for example, press once, show what alphabet, and eventually display a message by pressing another button when it's done. A delay of time could be added to the between of these messages too.

I could imagine this not only become a message/image display, perhaps also a way for some content for reading, a new form of e-book, but a short one, as flickering might not be too healthy for the user!

Hövding – Airbag for cyclists

Hövding is a wearable product that act as the airbag for cyclists that was designed by Terese Alstin and Anna Haupt, who started the project in 2005 as students at Lund University. The idea came out of frustration of having to wear regular bulky helmets and messes up their hair, also doesn’t look fashionable. It was also a respond to recent new law of Sweden, mandatory helmet use for children age 15 and below while cycling.They took 7 years intense research and development.

This airbag was developed in collaboration with airbag manufacturer Alva SwedenIt is functioned by battery-powered accelerometers and gyroscopes, the collar detects motions when the bike crashes, and uses helium to inflate into a hood in a second to protect the user. Thousands of crash test has been done using stunt riders and test dummies to collect rider movement patterns and accidents.

The Hövding costs $600 and only works once. “It’s actually three or four times better in terms of shock absorbance,” Alstin said. It is better than the traditional helmet as the structure cover the neck and more of the head.

The Hövding has an on off switch but before that the zip need to be completely closed for the collar to work properly, that is one quite good security measures. LEDs showing the battery level and whether Hövding is on or off, it also has sound to signal on or off of the collar. The battery can be used up to 18 hours of cycling then the user can charge it using micro USB charger.

Here's a crashtest video a cyclist did

The Hövding is definitely a very good product invented specifically for the needs of cyclists. Lightweight and convenient. Into style. Easy to fit and use. The only issue here maybe the one use and the price. Some may say same goes to the car airbag, but comparing a fall or crash for cyclist, that may happened more often then to car drivers, this might be an issue to own a new Hövding everytime it needs an replacement. 

But on the bright side, someone actually thinks of the cyclists, and hey perhaps soon they'll be such helmets for motorcyclists as well! Hopefully even more lightweight and compact!