In his feature, Glow Riders, in this week's print version of the LA Weekly, writer Joshua Glazer focuses on all the new advances in rave gear technology. It stands to reason that with general advances in humanity since the invention of strobe lights and glow sticks, rave culture would progress, too, in further pursuit of ways to enhance enjoyment of dancing to beat music (this has nothing to do with drugs, of course). Necessity breeds innovation on the dance floor.

Writes Glazer of the scene before Deadmau5's gig at the Palladium in the fall of 2009:

In 90 minutes, the sway will turn into a full-on throbbing mass of dancers, but at this more subdued moment, the most obvious activity is on the outskirts of the dance floor, where teens and 20-somethings outfitted with new-technology LED-embedded gloves blink, flash and strobe wildly as they craft miniature sculptures of light in the air. Their arms move in rapid circles, fingers crossing and extending in a miniature ballet of luminescence, while friends and strangers stare utterly transfixed by the display. Onstage, there's plenty of high-end lighting and video design, but the effect isn't half as intoxicating as these intimate rituals happening in the crowd. Like almost all other technologies these days, the light show has become personal.

After the jump, check out the newest advances in rave gear technology.

Rave Gloves in action

Sick rave gloves

Green laser and glass show. (Warning: bouncers may not let you in with that big chunk of glass.)

Glowstringing 4 U.

Glowstringing, old school style (glow sticks and string)

Poi balls, stationary

Poi balls in action

Poi ball dude.

Rave tongue barbell

Warning: do NOT take acid and watch this video. Your head will explode.

Rave binky. Stick it in your mouth and bingo, infantilized and ready to dance.

Step back before you hurt yourself with all that gear.

Want a tutorial? Go for it:

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