If you’ve ever reached into your pocket or bag to grab your earbuds and come up with a handful of hopelessly tangled cord, you know the struggle. There are cases to hold them, but if you’re anything like us, you lose those pretty quickly. The designers behind Helix want to help you keep your earbuds nearby and tangle-free.

In the process, they’ve created a fashion accessory that effectively hides the technological prize inside. The wristband, which comes in a variety of main color/accent color combinations, opens up to reveal a pair of Bluetooth earbuds. With a couple of swift movements you release the earbuds from their storage spot, turn them on, and jam them in your ear-holes.

According to a study that the designers cite, people spend about four hours a day listening to headphones (not true for us in particular because we like to obnoxiously blast our music from our computer speakers, but whatever). As the Helix is still in the design refinement stages, there aren’t any customer testimonials about how comfortable the earbuds are over long periods.

The designers seem to have focused a lot more on the design of the wristband rather than on that of the earbuds themselves, which is a little troubling. The Bluetooth control unit hangs down a bit under the chin, vaguely bringing to mind the little string that holds a kid’s cowboy hat on. Still, the wristband IS very stylish and looks like it could be easily integrated into any wardrobe for any gender.

At the time of publication, the project’s Kickstarter campaign has raised more than double its initial funding goal. When/if the Helix makes it to retail markets, it will retail for $199. For that price, the sound quality had better be totally amazing. The last thing we need is another expensive wearable that we give up on after a few weeks because it proves to be pretty, but not exactly a powerhouse in the functionality department.

The post Wrap Music: This Wrist Cuff Holds Your Earbuds For You first appeared on Gajitz.

Mood rings, those large domed accessories that change color to somewhat accurately gauge your emotional state, are moving into the technological age. The Moodmetric ring measures your emotional state throughout the day and can provide you with information in real time via a free app, or store it so you can look for emotional trends over days or weeks.

The ring works by measuring skin conductance, one of the metrics used in lie detector tests. Skin conductance reveals how well your skin conducts electricity, which is measured by the amount of sweat-induced moisture on the skin. The idea is that this measurement is closely linked to the wearer’s state of mind.

Moodmetric’s software identifies four different types of emotional reactions to stress; each type affects your life in a different way. The Bear causes others stress by being confrontational or combative. The Dog tries to please everyone and experiences stress when she encounters real or imagined disapproval. The Hedgehog freezes under pressure and defers to others when stressed. The Rabbit feels stressed or anxious pretty much all of the time and avoids conflict whenever possible. By tracking and identifying your typical reaction to stress, the Moodmetric ring can help you make adjustments to your daily emotional state.

The smart ring’s measurement data was tested by an outside source to ensure its accuracy. Of course, no wearable gadget can be a hundred percent accurate in judging your state of mind, but monitoring your stress levels over time can help you learn to lead a calmer, more relaxed life. The ring charges by Micro USB and tethers to your phone via Bluetooth Low Energy. It isn’t available for purchase yet, but the Moodmetric website offers the option to sign up to get an email when the first round of pre-orders opens up.

The post Stress-Measuring Ring Tracks + Records Your Emotions first appeared on Gajitz.

Wearables are the new black when it comes to new technology, but most of them are geared toward fitness in some way. The Neclumi is wearable technology that’s all about looking good and attracting attention.

The unique necklace from panGenerator consists of a pico projector connected via HDMI cable and mounted on the wearer’s chest. The projector is controlled via a custom iPhone app. It projects light patterns onto the wearer’s neck; ephemeral light takes the place of precious metals and jewels.

From the app, the wearer can choose between several modes. They all work based on technology built into the Neclumi. There is an accelerometer to measure body movement, a pedometer to measure walking speed, a microphone to measure ambient sound, and a compass to determine the rotation of the body. The display on the wearer’s neck depends on the chosen mode and the wearer’s actions.

The current iteration of the Neclumi necklace is a proof-of-concept, not an actual product. But with the constant miniaturization of technology, the folks at panGenerator believe that Neclumi and similar wearable projected jewelry will become not only possible, but commonplace in the next few years.

The post Wearable Projector Creates Dynamic Moving Light Jewelry first appeared on Gajitz.

What if The Matrix was right and we are all just biological power sources? The actual physics quoted in the movie aren’t accurate – the human body doesn’t generate “more electricity than a 120-volt battery” – but lots of bio-powered gadgets have shown us that the body can be used as a power source.

Industrial design graduate student Naomi Kizhner has designed a suite of purely conceptual bio-powered jewelry that harnesses existing bodily processes to create energy. The project is called Energy Addicts.

Although the designer is vague about what this energy might be used for, she does emphasize that our natural resources are depleting rapidly. At some point, it may become necessary to harness energy from biological sources in a harmless (though super creepy) manner.

All of the jewelry in the series is parasitic in nature and requires no effort on the part of the wearer. The E-pulse Conductor plugs into the spine via a pair of sharp pincers, drawing power from the user’s nerve activity. Blinker fits over the bridge of the nose like the bridge of a pair of eyeglasses, gathering energy every time the wearer blinks.

Blood Bridge, by far the most disturbing piece, is equipped with two needles that allow a human’s blood stream to pass through a “bridge” containing a waterwheel (blood wheel?) that turns to generate energy. Not to worry – these designs aren’t going to be produced anytime soon. But the designer does bring up some interesting ideas for using the energy we already generate to power the devices of the future.

The post Creepy Parasitic Jewelry is Powered by the Body’s Energy first appeared on Gajitz.

In wearable electronics, smart jewelry is an up and coming sector. Functional electronic devices that also happen to be beautiful are making their way into our lives day by day, and the Ringly smart ring is the newest contender in this growing field.

The Ringly is a Bluetooth-connected ring that pairs to your smartphone. It solves a problem that has always plagued women who keep their phones in their purses: it’s far too easy to miss notifications when your phone is hidden away.

When you get a call, text message, or push notification, the Ringly vibrates and flashes to alert you. It works via a little circuit board embedded in the gem that syncs to your phone via an iOS or Android app. The notifications are entirely customizable: the ring can vibrate once for a phone call or twice for a text message; or the gem can flash one color for your mother and another for your boss.

Ringly’s appeal is easy to see. For those who choose to put their phones away when at dinner or in other social settings, the ring can act as a subtle notification that doesn’t disturb others. And for those of us who are oblivious enough to miss notifications even when our phones are out, the Ringly can help keep us connected and avoid missing important communication.

The collection comes in 18K matte gold 3 micron plating with your choice of four gemstones. The retail price for the black onyx, pink sapphire, and rainbow moonstone is $195, while the emerald version goes for a cool $260. If you’re used to buying high-fashion jewelry these prices won’t be too shocking – but for everyone else, you can consider it an investment in both fashion and technology.

The post Ringing Bling: Connected Jewelry Keeps You in Contact first appeared on Gajitz.