Bicycles

Flashy cycling gloves feature automatic LED turn indicators

Flashy cycling gloves feature automatic LED turn indicators
beSEEN gloves' LEDs are activated by a built-in motion detector
beSEEN gloves' LEDs are activated by a built-in motion detector
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beSEEN gloves' LEDs can be left on, to act as running lights
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beSEEN gloves' LEDs can be left on, to act as running lights
beSEEN gloves' LEDs are activated by a built-in motion detector
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beSEEN gloves' LEDs are activated by a built-in motion detector
beSEEN gloves will be available in two styles, three sizes and three color choices
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beSEEN gloves will be available in two styles, three sizes and three color choices
The beSEEN's LED/electronics modules are waterproof and removable
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The beSEEN's LED/electronics modules are waterproof and removable
One USB charge juices up the beSEEN LEDs for about seven hours of continuous use
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One USB charge juices up the beSEEN LEDs for about seven hours of continuous use
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If you like the idea of cycling gloves with turn-indicating LEDs on the back, then you'll probably like Zackees, which have been around for a few years now. You do need to activate those LEDs yourself, however, by touching a contact in the thumb of the glove to one in the index finger. If that's just a bit too much of a bother, then you might prefer a pair of beSEENs.

Unlike Zackees, each beSEEN glove contains a motion sensor that detects when the user's hand has moved from being on the handlebars to being held out in a turn-indicating position. The seven amber LEDs in that glove will then start flashing, and keep doing so until the hand is back on the bars again. Users can also set the LEDs to remain on constantly, so the gloves act more as running lights.

The beSEEN's LED/electronics modules are waterproof and removable, with one USB charge juicing them up for about seven hours of continuous use. The gloves themselves are machine-washable.

One USB charge juices up the beSEEN LEDs for about seven hours of continuous use
One USB charge juices up the beSEEN LEDs for about seven hours of continuous use

Motion detector-activated bicycle turn indicators aren't an entirely new idea, incidentally. Similar tech has been implemented in the Intelligent Blinker bracelet prototype and the still-in-development Useeme bracelet, and is currently used by the bracelet-activated TurnCycle indicator.

If you're interested in getting a pair of beSEENs, the Melbourne, Australia-based designers are currently raising production funds on Kickstarter. A pledge of AUD$70 (about US$55) will presently do the trick, with delivery scheduled for August, assuming everything works out. The estimated retail price range is $89 to $99.

Source: Kickstarter

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6 comments
6 comments
Marco Corona
Guess these are only really good for those who ride their bikes in the dark....something (for the most part) that is not done at least in California. The roads and bike lanes are dangerous enough in the daylight.
Milton
Don't let Marco speak for all of California. Us Bay Area folk are way ahead of the SoCal folks when it comes to biking culture. My e-bike (and my wife's e-bike) have replaced our car for most trips.
HugoSLaVia
What a simple-yet-great idea. If I rode more at night I'd look into a pair. But I'm afraid of drunks behind the wheel. And guns. And drunks with guns behind the wheel. And potholes.
Stradric
Hm, but they don't actually do full left hand signaling.
Marco Corona
Milton, I did qualify my original post regarding California with "for the most part" . Guess you and your wife would fit that inclusion. Electric bikes are cool. As for Bay Area folks being ahead of SoCal biking culture, perhaps you should read the report below that comes from a San Francisco publication a little over a year ago. Apparently your area bike culture has more issues with bike deaths. Report: S.F. Is One of the Few Cities Where Cyclist Deaths Are Increasing
http://www.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2015/02/13/report-sf-is-one-of-the-few-cities-were-cyclist-deaths-are-increasing
MarkWaldron
Hi All,
Ben thanks for the article and highlighting beSEENS, as one of the (two) inventors really pleased you have given it some focus. Thanks.
To answer to some of the comments below, beSEENS are devised for both day and night use. During the day the super-bright LEDs can be seen up to 30m away so still very much improving your visability. At night this is extended up to 100m.
Stradic, not quite sure what you mean by don't do left hand signaling. Each pair of BeSEENS has a power pod on each glove so will indicate for both right and left hand turns once you put your hand out, the motion detecton activates and the lights then flash (3 different speed modes).
Sadly to everyones point, it can still be dangerous out there on your bike and it's for that reason we invented these so regardless of where you are we can increase significantly your visibilty which is a huge safety boost. Plus they are really comfy, summer or winter riding.
They don't though (as yet) fix the pothole problem. We'll keep working on that. Thanks for all your support!