Introduction to Wearable Technology for Creatives
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The document introduces wearable technology and discusses its history and various examples. It focuses on how sewable electronics like the LilyPad Arduino microcontroller have helped creatives incorporate technology into their work. Sensors and actuators are described along with examples of integrating them into interactive wearables. The document concludes that the availability of sewable electronics is revolutionizing creative fields and that wearable technology will continue improving through standards, sustainability efforts, more user-focused design, and developments in batteries and washable components.
Introduction to Wearable Technology for Creatives
- 1. Introduction to Wearable Technology for Creatives Rain Ashford Dept. Of Computing, Goldsmiths, University of London http://rainycatz.wordpress.com
- 2. Agenda Hello! In the beginning… Some favourite examples of wearable technology Maker and Hacker culture’s influence Sewable electronics: LilyPad Arduino Sensors & actuators Three examples of my work Summary points on wearable technology
- 3. Hello, my name is Rain and I create interactive wearables and art, working with many flavours of microcontrollers & various components…
- 4. In the beginning… Wearable technology of yore: heavy, messy, angular & clunky
- 5. Beam me up Scotty… ..sci-fi has a lot to answer for!
- 6. But we’re moving on from when wearable tech evoked thoughts of axe grinding cyborgs, serf robots, toasters and space pirates…
- 7. Meanwhile in real life… The miniaturization of technology has changed how people build & use wearable tech & electronics; they’re no longer comprised of cold, bulky sharp, boxy & ugly components that you might prefer to remain hidden
- 8. Wearable technology is a diverse area, and can be fashionable, whimsical, fun, practical, arty, serious, protective, interactive, sensing, medical, energy harvesting, communicating, musical and lots more…
- 9. Some favourite examples of wearable technology… Sensing: Clothing by Rainbow Winters: ‘Polymer Opal’ Lycra Dress Mondrian & Pettal Dress: thermochromatic reactive to light, colour changing inks Thunderstorm Dress: lights up to sound
- 10. Energy Harvesting: clothing Energy harnessing space suits, NASA Motivating Undergraduates in Science and Technology initiative In-shoe device: University of Wisconsin- Madison An in-shoe device designed to harvest the The suits incorporate piezoelectric zinc- energy that is created by walking, and oxide nanowires which creates a charge store it for use in mobile electronic devices in response to physical strain like bending or twisting, which could be used to charge the suit’s electronics
- 11. Medical: Epidermal Electronics 1960s wearable insulin pump Electronic tattoo, University of Illinois Monitors electrophysiological signals associated with the heart, other muscles and brain activity 2012 artificial pancreas & insulin pumps in development as shown by Gil de Paula of Pancreum at WT Conference 2012
- 12. 3D Printing: Fashion The first fully printed 3D bikini by Continuum Fashion, printed in nylon 12 and available to be printed to order from Continuum’s Shapeways shop The N12 was designed using Rhino 3D CAD software and specially written algorithmic script to create the structure of the 3D printed fabric. The algorithm uses a complex 'circle packing' equation on an arbitrarily doubly curved surface (the bikini). Andreia Chaves’ printed shoes
- 13. Self Monitoring: wearable devices A selection of wearable self-monitoring devices initially made popular by Quantified Self movement, Fitbit, Nike Fuel, NuMetrex, Wakemate, Zeo, Jawbone- UP, Philips, NeuroSky Mindwave
- 14. Hacker & Maker Culture’s influence on Creativity The growth of hacker / maker culture & communities has inspired a new group of creatives to evolve and enter the tech industries
- 15. New Business Opportunities & Online Communities ..a convergence of readily available electronic components, shared knowledge through communities and open source approaches to technology has broken barriers to learning & creativity
- 16. Sewable Electronics For me, the availability of sewable electronics & e-textiles has revolutionised the way I and many other artists & designers work
- 17. ..plus the styling of some of these components has made them more attractive to work with
- 18. …allowing me create much more elegant work
- 19. …incorporating the technology into the design
- 20. The LilyPad! Pin 1 - TX/D1 Pins 2,3,4 - D2, D3, D4 Pin 5 - GND or "-" (ground) Pin 6 - VCC or "+" (power) Pins 7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15 - D5 through to D13 Pins 16,17,18,19,20,21 - A0 through to A5 (analog pins)
- 21. The Arduino IDE comes with access to tons of sketch libraries which are all open source and easily downloadable into your editor to use as they are, or customise to your specific needs and great for people just starting out with programming.
- 22. LilyPad Arduino Microcontroller What I combine with it: Conductive Thread E-Textiles C (ish) Programming Sensors Actuators Hacked Electronics Conductive items To make: Wearables Sound Artworks Games All Interactive
- 23. Sensors… The availability of sensors in particular that allowed me to bring my ideas to fruition
- 24. DIY Sensors (and actuators)! ..plus there’s lots of information out there on how to make your own!
- 25. Components: Sensors vs. Actuators A sensor is an input device / an actuator an output device Sensors Actuators Input: stimulus / A physical Input: electrical signal - quantity, property, or current, voltage, phase, condition which is measured frequency, etc, Output: electrical signal - Output: mechanical (force, current, voltage, phase, pressure, displacement) or frequency display function (light, display, Variations: output can dial indication, etc) sometimes be displacement: thermometers, magnetostrictive and piezoelectric sensors. Some sensors combine sensing *and* actuation.
- 26. Actuators for wearable technology include… LEDs Electroluminescent Wire LCD / OLED Display Electroluminescent Servos Panels Motors Piezoelectric buzzers Speakers
- 27. Sensors for wearable technology include… Optical, Light & Sound GPS Temperature & Humidity Compass / magnetic field Energy Harvesting Weight Radiation / Environment Pressure / Force Heart Rate RFID Proximity / object Electric Current / detection Potential Gas & Liquid / Chemical Touch Inertial WiFi Biosensor EEG
- 28. Sensors, actuators, industry and creatives - bringing it all together In my research I’m starting to note key areas of sensor & actuator usage, against groups & areas of usage…
- 29. Hacking existing tech & combining sensors has allowed me to make pieces such as ‘You Make My <3 Flutter’: a proximity detecting, heart rate sensing ‘techlace’ visualising physical signs
- 30. And for looking at social interaction -‘Yr In Mah Face’: temperature /mood sensing t-shirt - uses Celsius temperature data from a sensor, averages it, then visualises the results via LEDs.
- 31. I’m also interested in practical uses - Don’t Break My Heart is a wearable, colour-coded distance warning system prototype for cyclists to wear on their back
- 32. LilyPad Arduino Microcontroller • Fabulousness • My wish list It’s sewable! An industrial version It’s open source – you can find Make it cheaper the Eagle files & free code More modules please libraries online / with IDE Different sizes and shapes of Good number of digital & board analogue I/O Choice of microcontrollers Great vector for encouraging Variable voltages girls/ boys /adults/ artists /anyone / to experience More competitors, to increase electronics innovation (Flora, Seeedstudio) It’s round (dismisses the idea that Development of washable electronics are sharp grey and conductive thread cold) Enthusiastic & helpful community
- 33. Summary: exciting time for e-textiles & wearable tech Availability of sewable electronics is revolutionising the work of artists & designers Self-monitoring movement i.e. Quantified Self is pushing wearable tech into the mainstream Hackspaces & online communities are helping demystify electronics & coding Open Source ethos is sharing & making knowledge more accessible Small Maker start-ups are changing the face of tech entrepreneurs Sewable electronics are inspiring a broader demographic to become interested in electronics & coding School age students are investigating electronics & code via e-textiles and wearable tech
- 34. Summary: wearable tech will be improved by Necessity for more standards and classifications Sustainability – recycling, reusing, repurposing - supply chain isn’t yet set up for wearable tech A lot of focus on the technology, but not enough on what the consumer wants: design, uses, size Marketing focus – sales, dissemination, tech know how - how do we help the public understand and use? Developments in battery / power supply tech: less bulky, better longevity, lighter, comfortable Washable circuits, sensors and microcontrollers – to gain acceptability they need robustness and logivity
- 35. Thank you for your attention! @Rainycat http://rainycatz.wordpress.com Rain Ashford 2012
Editor's Notes
- #18: Protosnap LilyPad Arduino board & component kit