Check this bad mofo out!

An automated stitch counter..... Bless little Rebecca's heart!



From the Iconoculture newsletter:


KEY INSIGHT
KnitWit smart needles track the number of stitches a knitter has stitched. Needles are wired with movement sensors and stream info back to a base station that calculates the number of stitches.


CONSUMER CONNECTION
Simple gadgets that help crafters concentrate on the soothing motion (rather than the counting) keep the activity focused on relaxation.

Knit one, purl … wha?! It’s so easy to lose track. But KnitWit smart needles track the number of stitches a knitter has stitched. Needles are wired with movement sensors and stream info back to a base station that calculates the number of stitches. Manual counters that track the number of rows knitted are available. But most require the user to press a button to reset the counter at the end of a row, so they’re still susceptible to a knitter’s forgetfulness (CNN 8.3.05). Lightweight, battery-operated, and small, KnitWit (which isn’t yet for sale) is portable enough to use even on a commute. Whether they’re creating Aran sweaters or iPod cozies, GenX knitters, “knit” boys, protest knitters, and anyone who’s into the resurgence of crafting appreciate tools that reduce anxiety. Simple gadgets that help crafters forget about the counting for a while keep the activity focused on relaxation.

RESOURCE
KnitWit, not yet in commercial production, was Rebecca Spender’s senior project at London’s Brunel University.

GENERATIONS
General Market: Gen Xers, Boomers

CATEGORIES
Leisure, Technology