Weird wearable tech that's much stranger than the Apple Watch

Weird wearable tech that's much stranger than the Apple Watch

Just over a week ago, Apple presented its new smartwatch to the world. This computer-on-your-wrist is Apple's first new type of product since the iPad. It'll be interesting to see if it has the same impact.

Wearable technology has been lauded as 'the next big thing' for a while. For instance, Google Glass went on sale in the UK earlier this year. And in March, a wearable technology show took place in London.

The Apple Watch might be the most mainstream piece of wearable tech yet. But that simply highlights the fact that plenty of strange gadgets have gone before it. Here are five of the most unusual:

1. Drumpants. (Yes, drumpants.)

Easily the most ridiculous pair of jeans we've ever seen, these trousers double up as a drumkit.

Well, to be precise, they're a set of electronic pads that you can wear under your clothes. When you tap them, they make noises. Prices start from $99 for a basic kit.

2. eBay's USB bracelets

Have you ever felt the urge to wear a USB cable on your wrist? Last year, eBay teamed up with the Council of Fashion Designers of America to create bracelets that also work as USB phone chargers.

Practical? Almost certainly. Fashionable? Well, would you wear one?

3. Panasonic's barely-noticeable wearable camera

Just check out how cool Brazilian football star Neymar looks wearing the Panasonic HX-A500 camera. You barely notice it's there:

Actually, this camera can go underwater and shoots at the latest 4K resolution (that's much better quality than your high-definition TV). So while it might not be subtle, it could be useful to extreme-sports fans.

4. Virtual reality

Virtuality image by Dr. Waldern/Virtuality Group (Dr. Jonathan D. Waldern), via Wikimedia Commons

Back in the 90s, one of the coolest ways to spend your time was to take a trip to the Trocadero in London. There you could put on a Virtuality headset and dive into the world of Virtual Reality.

These days, the crowdfunded Oculus Rift is picking up the VR mantle. Watch this space, then...

5. A sweater that senses your mood

Hate expressing your feelings honestly? You'll be wanting the Ger Mood Sweater. It uses sensors on your hands to read your 'excitement level', then lights up the collar with colours that are supposed to reflect how you're feeling.

Yeah, whatever. This thing makes wearing even Google Glass seem pretty normal.

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