Fast Future | Bio Bracelet

Personal health metrics just got cooler. UP the elegant new wristband by Jawbone is poised to revolutionize how we measure our food, activities, sleep, and much more. All this with a great user interface and social networking. Sure, there are big clunky devices that offer similar functionality, but they are nowhere near being so well designed that they could easily be mistaken as a piece of jewelry.

Pure Pattern with Peter Pilotto

Our latest couture crush is on fashion house Peter Pilotto. Comprised of Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos, the label has become well known for its geometric patterns, sculpted lines, and futuristic silhouettes that are somehow completely reimagined each season.

Fast Future - Bravo's The Fashion Show

In the 'Time Capsule' episode of Bravo's The Fashion Show hosted by Isaak Mizrahi and Iman, the designers had to reference both past and future in their challenge, a concept we love here at Future-ish. Designers met Iman at the American Museum of Natural History's New York Times Capsule and then had to each choose a box with a specific design era to use as inspiration in creating an original futuristic design. Throw in that each garment had to include plaid, identified as a "timeless pattern", in some way and you get a true sartorial struggle. The House of Emerald had the week's "ultimate collection" with Jeffrey Williams' gown (above left) as the week's individual winner.

Fast Future - Physalia

Belgian designer Vincent Callebaut has provided one of the most provocative conceptual designs we've seen in a long time. Collebaut's recent project, Physalia, is part ship, part lounge, and part water filter. The idea is that Physalia will cruise the waterways of Europe cleaning the water while offering a space for scientific research, a garden, a party, or a museum. With its systems thinking and far out lines, we think Physalia is a shining example of 22nd Century sustainable design.

Holly Fulton's 22nd Century Fashion

There is fashion forward and then there is fashion WAY forward. The designs of London-based Holly Fulton are definitely in the latter category. Fulton has consistently cast her "Fulton ladies" in bold graphics, deco designs, and striking metal and gem bling. Fashionistas probably see Egypt, art deco, and old Hollywood in her work but being design AND science geeks here at Future-ish, we see future retro with references to Bladerunner, Battlestar Galactica (both the original and the remake), and Stargate. Fabulous, striking, inspired. We can't wait for more.

Fast Future: Organic LEDs

The future looks bright indeed. With twice the efficiency of CFLs and endless design applications, from interior design to apparel, organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are promising a revolution in the lighting industry. Most recently, Lomox, a UK company leading the charge in the optoelectronics industry has taken the technology from a mere glimmer to full-on glitz by showcasing the technology as interior wallpaper. Reposted from Sustainable Sean.

Sci Fi Fashion

I enjoy following futuristic fashion trends so Gucci's Summer 2010 collection caught my eye right away. Perhaps Gucci didn't have these great Sci Fi classics in mind but when I saw ads from the campaign all I could see was (clockwise from left) Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, and Tron.

Mod rod

The end of driving has arrived. Designers Mike Simonian and Maaike Evers of Mike and Maaike Design Studio have reimagined mobility for the year 2040 and it includes a lounge for seven. The ATNMBL, short for Autonomobile, glides on electric and solar power and with GPS on board, passengers can focus on riding rather than driving. With the ATNBL, the 'new' mid-century modern has arrived...mid 21st century that is.

Planes of the future go electric

Debuted in 2008, the ElectraFlyer-C is an award-winning invention that may change the course of the future of flight. The ElectraFlyer-C runs completely on batteries and designer Randall Fishmann has plans two have a two-seater model by 2010.

Fast Future - Big Fast Change

The people at the X Prize Foundation not only have big ideas, they make them happen. Even better, they're putting their money where their mouth is by dangling the biggest carrot we've ever seen. An X PRIZE is a multi-million dollar award given to the first team to achieve a specific goal set by the X PRIZE Foundation that has the potential to benefit humanity. It all started in 2004 with the $10 million Ansari X PRIZE when Mojave Aerospace Ventures team, led by famed aircraft designer Burt Rutan and financed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, captured the Ansari X PRIZE with SpaceShipOne. Now X Prize is on to even bigger and better challenges with their Lunar, Automotive, and Genomics. Their mission is clear and simple "to bring about radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity".

Fast Future - Dickson Despommier

If Dr. Dickson Despommier has his way, the future will filled with skyscrapers growing soybeans and spinach. A microbiologist and ecologist at Columbia University, Dr. Despommier's latest project, Vertical Farm, not only provides new ways of cultivating the much needed produce required to feed our balooning population, it also addresses issues like municipal waste. You might even be able to go flyfishing on the 40th floor since the robust vertical ecosystem could maintain fish. With one vertical farm feeding up to 50,000 people, it just might be the solution many areas of the world are looking for. Growing food locally also provides other environmental benefits. With the right design, perhaps it could even provide some much needed connection to agriculture for urban dwellers.

Fast Future - Towards 2057

Discovery Channel's series 2057 is a fascinating look into what the world might be like in the year 2057. Each episode comes with a lot of technology and even a storyline to add a bit of drama. Some of the ideas are pretty creepy, such as your insurance company being able to keep tabs on your health and activities via your clothing and offering 'plantinum' coverage for the very healthiest. All in all though, it really is a great series and shows the potential of technology. Haven't seen any real predictions on what the future might hold socially, economically, and politically but the technology is certainly entertaining enough.

Fast Future - Tango anyone?

No, the photo to the right was not squished. It's a picture of the Tango, one of the latest entries into the alternative vehicle arena and it's getting a lot of attention and not just because George Clooney drives one. The Tango is an electric car but it offers the performance of many conventional sports cars. Difference is, it not only offers the environmental attributes of no emissions and less materials in production, it promises a future of lane doubling, lane splitting, and perpendicular parking...solutions that apeal to even the coldest hearted Wall Street big business trader. Designed and engineered by father/son team Rick and Bryan Woodbury, the Tango stops traffic frequently, but in this case it is because of its looks and innovations. No doubt, the Tango is poised Visit Commuter Cars for more information.

Fast Future - Bradley Edwards

Get ready for frequent flyer miles beyond your wildest dreams. Dr. Bradley Edwards is considered the father of the Space Elevator, a technology that promises to allow humans to travel up to Earth-orbiting space stations in the time it takes us to take a short flight. The paper-thin, 3ft wide carbon nanotube ribbon teathers an Earth-bound anchor with a counterweight in pace. Many consider the space elevator the dawn of true space travel and exploration due to the breadth of what can be accomplished using the space elevator and the low cost of powering it using solar power and laser beams.

Fast Future - Deep green in Dongtan

Arub has partnered with Shanghai Industrial Investment Corporation (SIIC) to design and build Dongtan, one of the worlds first true ecocities on Chongming Island near Shanghai, China. Leading Arup's team is architect and urban designer Alejandro Gutierrez. Beginning with trying to maintain habitat for the very rare black-faced spoonbill, the entire development was designed and engineered with environmental responsibility and sustainable development in mind. From organic farms and extensive green space to biofuels and green technology, Dongtan is poised to set the standard for sustainable development for the entire world.

Fast Future - Fashion's future

Indeed, the future of fashion has arrived. Not only does SANS provide fresh new concepts in design, they do it with sustainable materials. Designed by Lika Volkova and produced by Alessandro de Vito, New York based SANS offers clothing that is both completely fresh and completely accessible at the same time. But perhaps the most forward looking element of othe line is the textiles. Made from sustainable textiles such as bamboo, organic cotton, and organic wool, the clothing is future friendly while remaining high design. Add to that the clothing is made in NYC and the stylish story gets even sweeter.