Third Wave Fashion // JUNE 2014 | Page 10

SMARTWATCHES BUCKLE DOWN r In an effort to eliminate the gap between classic watches and modern functionality, Modillian has shied the “smart” focus away from the face and put it in the easily under-appreciated buckle. ough the whole setup consists of the buckle and a leather strap, the bluetooth connectivity creates a vibration hub on the wrist to alert wearers to a number of things like emails, phone calls and texts. PSFK WEARABLES THROUGH A NEW LENS Quantifying daily life has been the focus of life trackers so far, whether they look good or not. anks to the JINS MEME glasses though, honing in on stylish trackers may be closer than expected. By hiding the hardware inside the frames of the glasses, it’s reasonable to believe the same push to make Google Glass fashionable could be achieved with JINS MEME. PC WORLD NOT-A-CAMERA A 2D camera that’s laser-cut in wood seems more like something you would find at an Urban Outfitters or around the neck of “unique” hipsters everywhere, but this isn’t just another kitchy necklace. No, the Not-A-Camera necklace is more like something James Bond’s daughter would be found with, because it’s a legitimate camera. e bauble actually takes video and still images, contains a microphone and has USB connectivity, allowing each of us to embrace our inner spy. LAUGHING SQUID OPEN-SOURCE EQUALS CUSTOM As the relevance of smartwatches continues to be debated, developer Jonathan Cook believes that open-source options could provide a fully customizable option for consumers. Cook’s Open Source Watch project takes advantage of 3D printing and modular components to make every element of the watch customizable, which he believes is key to the larger success of smartwatches. PSFK LEAPFROG WEARABLES at’s right, the children’s educational tech company is developing smartwatches for five-year-olds. e watch is essentially a Tamagotchi that’s worn on the wrist, and kids earn points and rewards for their virtual pet by participating in physical activities. We’re curious to see how well they do, but hey, if it gets kids moving then why not? THE TELEGRAPH the recap // 8