Wearables get the runway treatment at Augmented World fashion show

Who says you have to sacrifice on looks if you’re into wearable tech?

In a mashup of fashion and technology, Living in Digital Times hosted a runway show Wednesday focused on wearables at the Augmented World Expo in Santa Clara, Calif. Augmented reality is a broad industry term used to describe companies’ efforts to interweave rich media and personalized content into people’s daily lives.

The runway show took things further. There were smartwatches and wristbands, yes, but also clothing that changed color based on tactile response, clutch handbags with speakers, and a bizarre light-up wig. Styles were included from a number of tech-inspired designers, including Kristin Neidlinger, founder of Sensoree, and wearable electronics creator Angela Dale. Take a look for yourself.

The first model got things started with some interesting technology from Scientific Humanities. The company makes an iOS app, OrigaMIDI, which provides an augmented reality visualizer and MIDI music controller that interacts with printed pattern designs. Here, a man uses the camera on an iPad to pick up the signals from patterned cards held by the model.

The model here is wearing the $399 Rebecca Minkoff for Stelle Audio Clutch, which has Bluetooth-enabled speakers inside. She is also wearing a “smart” Zazzi ring from the company FashionTEQ. The ring can display custom images and notify the wearer when a text or call is received. An Indiegogo campaign for Zazzi closes next month.

The Narrative Clip bills itself as the world’s smallest wearable camera. Meant to be a “life-logging” device, it takes one 5-megapixel picture every 30 seconds. That’s a lot of photos—surely at least one of them would “augment” the user’s actual life. It retails for $279 and has a battery life of two days, according to the company. A companion app for both iOS and Android lets users manage their shots.

Another model, another FashionTEQ creation—in this case, a smart cuff bracelet. The device vibrates when the wearer receives a call or text, keeping the attention focused on that orange butterfly dress instead of on a loudly ringing smartphone.

Think you got game? Maybe, but you may not know for sure until you analyze your shot speed, arc and dribbling skills. The $250 94Fifty smart sensor basketball gathers all sorts of data, sending it back to the user’s iOS or Android device over Bluetooth. (See how it works in this TechHive video.) The idea is that the information can help players improve their game.