Programmable Fabric
Is the next big trend programmable fabric? This new fabric will let you share a music video or Facebook page with anyone nearby.
Jansport are working on developing a prototype backpack that includes this fabric. Each thread will be arranged in a unique pattern on the backpack.
Allowing each backpack to be identified by a designated smartphone app, this would be similar to using on of those QR Codes.
Although the backpack is still in the development process Jansport says they think it could hit the market as soon as 18-months.
Car Seat Technology
An average of 37 children die every year after being left inside a hot car during the summer months.
Safety advocates and lawmakers are pushing for laws that will require cars be built with a child alert system.
There are three high tech items already on the market that help adults remember that there is a child in the back seat.
Sensorsafe is an exclusive technology that comes in some of Evenflo car seats. It comes with a receiver that communicates with the car seat’s smart chest clip. Letting the driver know through a series of chimes whether a child is still in the car seat after the car has been turned off.
General Motor’s rear seat reminder system is paired with the vehicle’s back door sensor. Activating when the rear doors are either opened or closed. It usually starts withing 10-minutes of the vehicle being started or while it’s running.
Once you have reached your destination the driver will get a reminder on the dashboard to check the back seat. But, will the reminder still work if the vehicle was restarted without opening the back door? There wasn’t a reminder when the vehicle was turned off and back on after an impromptu stop.
General Motor says their feature is “designed to remind drivers to check the back seat as they exit their vehicle under certain circumstances.”
Another system that won’t send an alert after an impromptu stop is Waze. Waze is a popular traffic application with a setting that will remind you to check your backseat when you reach the destination entered into the application.
One important reminder when using app based alert systems is to always make sure your phone is charged.
Many parents make the mistake of feeling like this will never happen to them but always remember to check your back seat before you leave your car.
