Electroluminescense isn't new--hobbyists have toyed with the technology for a while, making everyday objects look like they came straight out of Tron. Paul Schnieder wants to use it to help make cycling at night a little less dangerous.
Paul's Electroluminescent Helmet Kit, currently on Kickstarter, is based on a simple concept: It adds electroluminescent (EL) strips to the sides and back of motorcycle and bicycle helmets. The result not only gives your helmet that oh-so-hip sci-fi aesthetic, but it can also help increase your visibility as you ride around at night, possibly preventing you from getting hit by a car.
The kit would come with a flexible EL light strip to wrap around your helmet, a battery pack (which attaches to the back of the helmet), and the necessary cables. According to Paul, his goal was to design something that's easy to operate, lasts a long time on a single set of batteries, and stays cool to the touch.
According to the Kickstarter page, the components are relatively easy to come by, which to my eyes gives it a good chance of succeeding as a product--assuming Paul reaches his funding goal, anyway. He's looking to raise $10,000 to purchase the necessary components and work toward designing the next version of the kit, and as of this writing, he's raised $316.
You do have some time if you want to back this project, though--September 5, to be exact. If the Electroluminescent Helmet Kit sounds like something you'd be interested in, visit the Kickstarter project page to find out more.
