# Wearables Might Have Limited Fashion Options - Lachrymogenic Lane Language

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2015-05-14
- Length: 1h 10m
- Episode: 249
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-05-14-wearables-might-have-limited-fashion-options-lachrymogenic-lane-language
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/249-wearables-might-have-limited-fashion-options-lachrymogenic-lane-language/

## Summary

Chris Gammell of Contextual Electronics joins Dave Jones to discuss the viability of wearables, noting that charging requirements may limit their adoption despite innovations from Apple and Intel. They analyze the failure of hardware startups like Wattage and Ninja Blocks, highlighting the risks of relying on cloud services and crowdfunding, and review industry consolidation with Microchip's acquisition of Microl. The conversation also covers the inefficiency of solar roadways compared to rooftop systems and the economic drivers behind home energy storage solutions like the Tesla Powerwall.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-05-14-wearables-might-have-limited-fashion-options-lachrymogenic-lane-language#t=0) Introduction: Chris Gammell and Contextual Electronics
- [3:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-05-14-wearables-might-have-limited-fashion-options-lachrymogenic-lane-language#t=180) Hackathons and Hardware: Kenji Larson's Portable Lab
- [8:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-05-14-wearables-might-have-limited-fashion-options-lachrymogenic-lane-language#t=512) ESP8266 Modules and IoT Connectivity
- [14:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-05-14-wearables-might-have-limited-fashion-options-lachrymogenic-lane-language#t=874) Solar Roadways: The Amsterdam Prototype Failure
- [24:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-05-14-wearables-might-have-limited-fashion-options-lachrymogenic-lane-language#t=1444) Tesla Powerwall and Home Energy Storage Economics
- [36:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-05-14-wearables-might-have-limited-fashion-options-lachrymogenic-lane-language#t=2205) Wearables: Apple Watch, Intel Curie, and Charging Pain
- [43:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-05-14-wearables-might-have-limited-fashion-options-lachrymogenic-lane-language#t=2617) Industry Consolidation: Microchip Acquires Microl
- [50:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-05-14-wearables-might-have-limited-fashion-options-lachrymogenic-lane-language#t=3024) Startup Failures: Wattage and Ninja Blocks
- [1:03:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-05-14-wearables-might-have-limited-fashion-options-lachrymogenic-lane-language#t=3806) Distributed Control and Microcontroller Strategy

## Topics

- [Wireless & RF](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/wireless-and-rf)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Contextual Electronics (company)
- ESP8266 (chip)
- Tesla Powerwall (product)
- Apple Watch (product)
- Intel Curie (chip)
- Microchip (company)
- Microl (company)
- Wattage (company)
- Ninja Blocks (company)
- ST (company)
- Freescale (company)
- NXP (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [All-in-One Hardware, Software, & Connectivity | Particle's Zach Supalla | Internet of Things Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2022-11-17-all-in-one-hardware-software-connectivity-particles-zach-supalla-internet-of-thi) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [244: Magic And Electrons](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2018-05-04-244-magic-and-electrons) (Embedded.fm)
- [#008 - What to learn from Pebble’s story: two times most funded Kickstarter campaign ever to its eventual end, with your host, Balint Horvath, Switzerland](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-01-11-008-what-to-learn-from-pebbles-story-two-times-most-funded-kickstarter-campaign) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)
- [How to Design and Build Connected Devices | Wai Loong-Lim, Founder and CEO of Y Studios | #AskIoT E023](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2019-04-17-how-to-design-and-build-connected-devices-wai-loong-lim-founder-and-ceo-of-y-stu) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [17: Facebook Status: Maybe Not Dead](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-09-04-17-facebook-status-maybe-not-dead) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-05-14-wearables-might-have-limited-fashion-options-lachrymogenic-lane-language. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Amp Hour.