Who needs an internet fridge tomorrow... [Technology, Books and Other Neat Stuff]

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... when you can have an internet sewing machine today?

Spotted yesterday at the Microsoft Device Alley press event, the Bernina MyArista 200 sewing machine. A computer controlled sewing machine, capable of some quite complicated embroidery when used as a XY plotter, it's also able to use a modem to connect via a built-in web browser to a portal site, where you can download new patterns and stitches.

Rather unusual, and quite intriguing - and a standout among the military translators, home entertainment equipment, exercise machines, and the like...

Mood::

amused

Music:: none

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There are 9 comments on this entry. (Reply.)

It's quite amazing how complex the design and programming features of sewing machines have quietly (presumably 'cos they're not deemed cool and sexy in the standard way) become over the years. I've not tried any further than having an occasional go in shops: the problem with sewing machines is that they last--seemingly forever,--can be repaired and refurbished and I can't justify a third. Still think the new Brothers look cooler tho'. There's a whole competitive industry out there.

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But have you managed to find out how much it cost?

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about $5k

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That's about par for the course. I did look at them a while ago, but the software was substandard.

And get this - even though the software ONLY works with their hardware, they wouldn't lend me an eval copy to see if it was garbage or not!

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no separate software with this - you load designs off a CD that plugs into the sewing machine or via the modem. No PC conenction at all - all embedded controls.

but yes, too rich for my palette; put one in an EasyInternet caff!

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Thing with powered needles, millimetres away from your fingers.

And it runs Windows

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Many years ago (I seem to recall it was before Intersection, which would make it pre-mid 1995) there was a review of a Mac controlled embroidery machine in PCW. It looked like it worked great and (if I recall correctly) it cost about 800 pounds (which was cheaper than a laser printer in those days) ... and I wanted one. I've mentioned it to people at least once a year ever since, and I'm glad to finally see a PC one!

I still want one! Convention badges, logos on baseball hats and t-shirts, all sorts of things ... me want! :-)

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bear in mind that this isn't connecting to a PC like flower_cat's - it's standalone, has the OS emedded, doesn't need to be controlled by an extrenal, cabled PC. The smarts are in the sewing machine so it targets a whole bunch of different people than connecting your 'puter to it

And just why was Picard so keen on doing embroidery in a starship anyway? (Make it sew!)

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$mdlbear: blue fractal bear with text "since 2002" (Default)$

The

flower_cat's Janome 10000 is bit older but still has a touchscreen, USB and serial ports, and a PCMCIA slot. All the I/O is for file transfer; as far as I know there's no way for the PC to drive it directly as a plotter. Makes sense -- you have hard real-time on the sewing machine, and a lot of tricky timing.

I remember the first attempts to drive a Diablo daisy-wheel printer from a computer at Xerox PARC: miss the timing on the hammer and you have a stripped daisy and petals all over the room.

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