Shemagh Konsepts

Royal College of Art graduate Yu-Chang Chou has developed a “return and reuse” packaging system to help online retailers reduce waste.

Nimble - modular backpack by Fernando Montero, Joan Niubó, Alan Niski and Eduard Carulla

Nimble is a backpack designed for mountaineering brand Alpina, trying to solve two problems:

– How do you carry big objects which don’t fit in your usual backpack?

– How do you you improve accessibility and organization?

Nimble features a modular attachment system that allows easy access to all your items at the same time it removes the physical limits of the fabric to allow the transportation of large items such as skis or snowboards.

Armani Exchange by Stefan Brown

Long track speed skating is a race against the clock. Skaters reach speeds of roughly 50 kph, so drag has a significant impact. This is why skaters stay bent and spend straightaways—their fastest segments on the ice—with their arms pulled behind them. It’s also why their speedsuits have hoods to cover their hair. This year the U.S. speed skaters are wearing special suits designed by Under Armour and Lockheed Martin especially for their aerodynamics. The suits feature a mixture of fabrics including raised surface features on the hood and forearms. These bumps are designed to trip turbulent flow in these regions. It seems counterintuitive, but drag is actually lower for a turbulent boundary layer than a laminar one at the right Reynolds number range. This is because turbulent boundary layers are better at staying attached to non-streamlined bodies. The longer flow stays attached to the skater, the smaller the pressure difference between the air in front of the skater and the air in his wake. The suit’s seams and even its hot-rod-like flames were placed with this effect in mind. Only time will tell whether the suits really give skaters a competitive edge, but since Sochi’s low-altitude increases drag on skaters, they will appreciate some extra speed. For more, NSF has an inside look at the suit’s development. (Photo credits: Under Armour)

Intel Presents the “Make it Wearable” Challenge