Sketch Two Ideation Concepts

For this week we spent time developing the ideas we would present in lab. We narrowed it down to three concepts, all of which have the idea of nature worked into a piece of wearable technology.

Hair Lights

The first idea is of a method of communication involving light and and movement. We focused on the concept of using movement and color, like certain animals use them, for communication. Particularly, we wanted to communicate joy. Our piece for this concept is a wig that reacts to the user's movements; that is, it reacts to their speed and quality of movement as well as to their interactions with others while dancing. The hair lights up different colors depending on this data that would be caught from accelerometers attached to points over their body. When the user comes into contact with another person, a touch sensor located on their hand or arm, if activated, will cause their hair to flare a bright warm color.

The actual hair will be made either into a wig with fiber optic extensions or made with embedded LEDs. Another option as well is for actual hair extensions that could clip onto the user's own hair. We also are looking into using El Wire to create different lighting effects.

Furry Shoulder Friend

The next proposal was for a small furry companion for people afraid of the dark. The fuzzy friend would be attached to a scarf-hood piece. The light sensor at the top of the hood would detect when the lights became dim and would cause the furry companion to begin to shiver gently on the wearer's shoulder. In order to comfort the creature, the user would gently pet the companion until it began purring, indicating pleasure and contentment. By doing this, not only will the furry friend be comforted, but the user, reacting to the needs of something else, will also have the feeling of being comforted as well.

The sensors involved in this idea would include a light sensor and a touch sensor. It would also include a mechanism to produce the vibrations of the creature and something to make the purring noise.

Defensive Body Suit

Our third idea was to create a body suit that would react defensively, similar to how an animal would react to a threat. The suit was designed, however, not to look like an animals per se, but instead more sculptural. Taking inspiration from BMW's Gina car, we wanted something sensual and powerful looking. Our suit changes its shape from a standard long sleeve shirt to one that is almost "inflated" looking, using wires controlled by motors under the skin of the suit. The wires on the back would lift to raise the back and shoulders of the wearer while the motors on the arms would compress, forcing the wires there to bend upwards. The rib cage as well would be emphasized through the use of wires, making the

user appear larger. This would all happen in response to two things: A sudden loud noise that becomes unceasing and an invasion of the user's "personal bubble". These two things together would trigger the suit's defense mechanism. If the suit was going off all the time though, the user ma become frustrated so, by making a simple hand motion that touches a sensor on the wrist, the users can restrict the suit.