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TECH NEWS

UK brand Li & Co launch Visijax motion-activated electronic jacket

Crazy name rather sensible jacket that detects arm movement and turns your arm in to an illuminated indicator

Cambridge-based Li & Co have launched a new electronic cycling jacket that senses when you move your arm to indicate and flashes amber lights automatically to alert other road users.

The new Visijak jacket incorporates a total of 23 high-intensity LEDs and the indicator lights use what the manufacturer describes as an Intelligent Motion-Activated Signalling System (iMASS).

Motion detectors sense the movement when you raise your arm to indicate a turning and automatically turn on the appropriate amber signal. The flashing signal remains on for around 5secs after you’ve put your arm down to allow sufficient time for a safe turning.

The integrated LEDs are grouped in three different clusters and they adopt standard light colour coding - white for front, red for rear, and amber for the iMASS turning signal. They’re all positioned so as not to be obscured if you wear a backpack and they’re powered by three AAA batteries. The manufacturers say that you’ll get over 200 hours of battery life in continuous operation.

The jacket is said to be both rainproof and breathable with vents to let moist air out and fresh air in.

“Visijax is the ultimate commuter cycling jacket,” said Andy Li, CEO of Li & Co. “Every aspect of Visijax is carefully designed with commuting cyclists in mind, from the backpack-friendly positioning of LED lights to its unique all-round ventilation.”

The Visijak will retail at £149 although you can get one at a special introductory price of £129 until the end of May.
For more info, including how to buy a Visijax, visit www.visijax.com.

Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. We send him off around the world to get all the news from launches and shows too. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

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9 comments

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Alan Tullett | 11 years ago
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Looking round and seeing what's going on before you indicate and then doing so works quite well!!

At least I'm still alive!

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Tom Amos | 11 years ago
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test

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Tom Amos | 11 years ago
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test

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Karbon Kev | 11 years ago
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Nothing new and still not as effective as sticking your arm out when changing direction ...

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mr-andrew | 11 years ago
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It's a great idea, but for the love of god - why does it have to be hi viz yellow? We seem to have a national obsession with the stuff. Surely some marginally more tasteful white reflective strips, or reflective thread would work great without making you like like a giant yellow twat.

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Tony Farrelly | 11 years ago
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Don't see why it shouldn't work on a road bike too - depends on the position of the indicator strip. Judging by the pics it certainly aimed more at the urban commuter, which makes sense too.

An illuminated jersey would be a good idea too - not that I'm knocking simple bands on ankles and wrists - ankle bands should work especially well at catching driver attention.

My only concern with the jacket, just looking at it from the pics is that like some of the early electro luminiescent jackets - the makers concentrate too much on the electrics and not enough on the jacket - to the detriment of breathability and a more fitted cycling cut.

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Comrade | 11 years ago
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Very nice. But with all due respect, I ride a roadbike now and in the dark, I put white reflector slap bands on me ankles so it makes me a bit more visible as my legs pedal. In the day or night, even at noon, I put amber (dayglo reflective) slap bands on me wrists. When I am going to turn, I stick my arm out to indicate...simple...battery operated jeackets...me ar$3...but enjoy spending your money anyway!

Smooth tar & blue skies

Comrade

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jameshaworth21 | 11 years ago
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This is a good idea, even if at first it only makes drivers pay attention because they haven't seen anything like it. However, I would hope if the company were successful that they would develop a long sleeve jersey version alongside the full rain jacket. Personally, I would only wear a rain jacket in the worst possible conditions because they are just too hot and I think many cyclists take the same view. A long sleeve jersey version would be more suitable for year round use as, lets face it, it doesn't rain every day (although it seems like it now) but it does get dark every day.

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joemmo | 11 years ago
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sounds promising but the amber indicator lights would need to be sufficiently powerful and indicator-like for a driver to realise that they are actually indicators and respond accordingly. It's not something people are used to see coming from a cycle/ cyclist and could just confuse or be ignored.

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