This Week in Sensors

1. Charge your smartphone by creating electricity through walking
2. Pixie Scientific has developed a diaper to detect possible urinary tract infections, kidney dysfunctions, and dehydration
3. sensors for turning plain surfaces into low-cost touchscreens
4. Wimoto motes – series of $39 sensors for measuring climate, plant growing conditions, moister, motion, etc (CNET and their first and second indiegogo campaigns)
5. first-ever bridge between optomechanics and microfluidics has been built
6. sensor for monitoring a sleeping baby and alerting parents of the potential of SIDS
7. contact lenses could be the future Google Glasses
8. news on sensor-enabled/integrated fabrics
9. New Microfluidic Chip Can Help Identify Unwanted Particles in Water and Food
10. Head trauma sensors aim to measure concussion risks
11. Glucose-sensing contact lens
12. a bracelet for remote tactile communication

and an application I didn’t realize about pressure sensors – helps more accurately calculate calories  from altitudinal variation involved in one’s daily activities and exercise such as climbing up and down stairs or hills.