Track Wear A look at the gadgets and gizmos that help frequent flyers keep track of their sleep, steps, heartbeat and more.
SOUND SLEEP Noise-canceling headphones have long been a fixture in the frequent traveler’s carry-on, but Onkyo’s Kokoon headphones go a step further with integrated EEG brainwave-sensing technology. Audio softens gradually as the listener drifts off to sleep, kicking in the phones’ monitoring tech and Intelligent Sleep Alarm, programmed to ring at the lightest point in a sleep cycle.
BY KATIE SEHL | ILLUSTRATIONS BY ALEXANDRE AFFONSO
FRESH AIR FLAIR French startup Wair sells scarves and neck tubes that filter air before it’s inhaled – perfect for tight aircraft quarters where germs are easily transmitted. A built-in sensor detects bacteria, pollen and pollution, and a companion app can alert users when to wear the scarf.
WATCHBANDS When it comes to geek chic smartwatches, labels such as Guess, Hugo Boss and Tag Heuer are trotting out stylish timepieces with features that range from payment tech to biometric tracking. As an alternative, the Montblanc e-strap and crowdfunded Smart Buckle are smart bands that can be slipped around a favorite old-fashioned watch face.
ELECTRIC SKIN On the surface, temporary tattoos are a seamless way to merge high tech with high fashion. Imagine, as MIT Media Lab researchers have with DuoSkin, accessorizing with gold-leaf digital skin jewelry. These techy tats can transform skin into a smartphone-connected interface for controlling a playlist or as an NFC tag that can be scanned for data.
SMART KICKS In development with easyJet, Sneakairs are vibrating smart shoes that, using Bluetooth and Google Maps technology, can guide wearers around town. For travelers keen to have more than one techy pair of shoes, ODD Industries’ SuperShoes insoles perform a similar function, Under Armour’s Gemini 3 sneaks track running data metrics, and ShiftWear’s walk-to-charge kicks change color via smartphone controls or preset movements.
TRANSLATOR BUDS Translating on the fly can be a challenge, but the Pilot earpiece from Waverly Labs is an able, ear-friendly assistant. Using Bluetooth technology and noise-canceling microphones, the earbuds identify and translate more than 16 languages, including Arabic and Mandarin, in real time – a boon in an environment as multilingual as an airplane cabin.
CONNECTED CLOTHING From Supa’s heart-rate monitoring bra to Courrèges’ self-heating coat, nearly every clothing item now has a smart counterpart. Most high-tech clothing is geared around tracking biometrics, but some, such as Nadi X’s yogapose-holding pants or Lumo Lift’s posture-correcting items, provide fitness-related assistance. Levi’s Commuter Trucker Jacket with Jacquard by Google, allows users to control their mobile experience from the sleeve.
BAND AIDS Experienced by one in three Americans, chronic pain is often magnified under the strain of travel. NeuroMetrix’s Quell pain-relief band is an electrical nerve stimulation unit that pulses electrical signals transcutaneously through the body, triggering the natural pain response system. When paired with its app, the band allows users to customize therapy and track insights on sleep, pain and activity.