Wearables

alexVoltV1 takes as low as 1V input and can output up to 35V, although I
designed the board for 18V up to 650 mA. I'm trying a dual hole design
for sewing conductive thread to the board - I'm looking forward to
seeing how it works. Thanks to Zach and Studio 5050, this board is
based on part of the Hug Hoodies design.



-- Wed, 07 May 2008 02:21 -0400

Wearables Studio
Week 5, Fabric PCB



Sounds sexy doesn't it? It was sexy to make too. There were five of us
working together: Armanda, Yuan-Ting, Kristin, Che-Wei and myself. Our
first task was to cut the conductive fabric Despina generously donated.
First we made a simple Illustrator file which had as many various shapes
as we could fit in - concentric circles, thin lines, thick lines,
squares, and so on. Next we laser cut the fabric making our working
base.

We all gathered Tuesday evening and decided to work on a piece each. We
all contributed resources and conversation while working away. The
conductive fabric had an iron on backing which made it extremely easy to
use. A few things I noticed for future reference:

- thin lines and concentric circles work well
- best to avoid ironing conductive fabric together, finicky
- IE: better to work out exactly the circuit you want and cut it
- cutting the fabric by hand isn't hard, okay for stuff not to be seen
- using flux to solder to conductive fabric _works_ but is not easy
- some fabrics are easier to solder than others



I love hearts. I made a switch, consisting of two sets of lips. When
they "kiss" the LED in the middle of the heart lights up.

-- Wed, 27 Feb 2008 21:25 -0500

Wearables Studio
Week 3, Parts list

I have more or less worked out the butterfly extension mechanism. It
will need to be held together somehow, and I don't know if the pager
motors I plan on using will offer enough power, but I will try building
one in the next week.



As to the butterfly flapping, I'm not sure of the mechanism, but I have
a basic idea. I will run fishline through the rod up to the spring
which is attached to the butterfly, and contracts to make it flap.
Pulling on the string will generate downward motion, which won't pull
properly on a horizontally placed spring. Another problem is keeping
the device static to the extension mechanism; flapping the butterfly
shouldn't cause the rod to jerk in and out. Again, I will try building
one by next week.



The flapping of the butterfly wings is correlated to the beat of the
dress wearer's heart. This relation is not simply beat - flap - beat
- flap, but instead uses an algorithm which attempts to emulate the
random fluttering of a stationary butterfly.

Finally, a parts list:

Dress
- Decorative fabric from B&J
- Liner from Canal Fabrics

Wiring
- Conductive thread from Bekaert

Butterfly Protrusion Device
- Rod: SI8469 or 1/16" aluminum pipe from metalliferous
- 4mm Namiki pager motor
- two wheels
- rubber lining
- enclosure/something for stability

Butterfly
- Fabric from B&J
- Paper from Blick's
- 9657K81 Compression Springs from McMaster
- Fishing line

Proximity Sensing
- Sharp GP2Y0A21YK

Heart Monitoring
- Wireless Polar device

Movement
- Strategically attached lilypad accelerometer

-- Thu, 14 Feb 2008 08:41 -0500

The Softness of Things
Week 7, Fur

I am continually drawn to the idea of fabric and body. I have no
interest in tattoo's, however, I am fascinated by the potential ability
for humans to modify their own bodies biologically in ways which enhance
their perceptions, abilities, or pure comfort. How about growing wings?
Or eyes that can see in the dark? Fur? How would life's experiences be
different after having undertaken evolutionary change?



The idea that such change could be controlled by the individual is
essential. This is not prescribed, or administered, these changes are
unique to our own biochemistry. This line of thinking, led to the idea
of adding a fur, making it attachable to the body as a simulation of
what the experience would be like. The experience will be royal, thus
the color purple. Royal in that you are unique and treasured.

The purpose of the hair is to extend our sensory perception. Some take
the drug Ecstasy, which enhances sensory perception, leading to pleasure
from a simple touch. What if this new fur could be acute, causing us
pleasure when rubbed by a loved one, or warning us when a poison is
near? Perhaps it could feel emotion exuded by another's electromagnetic
emissions?



I had thought of adding a light to give it that "attractive physical
look", but after writing this, it is totally unnecessary and non-matching
for an extension of ones physicality. I choose the back and a circle,
because I think the back is neglected as a sensory center. It is a
neutral position on our bodies in many cultures, and can be patted,
viewed, by the right person held, without anxiety. What better place to
extend?



I am reminded of Dan Simmon's wonderful book Hyperion, where AI
dependent humans who never really changed over millennia are rescued by
brethren who embraced evolution.

Speaking of books, I found the readings this time around a bit tedious.
The ergonomics handout was interesting, not for the details, but it
definitely made me more aware of the importance of designing for the
body. A poor product design has the potential to inflict long term
harm. Hmmm, as I write this I am imagining this incredibly uncomfortable
elastic rubber band. One end goes around the head, the other beneath
the feet. The subject must stand from a bending position. It could
double as a rubberband for people, wrapping them together, transferring
our concepts for bundling objects together to that of people.

"Fragments for a History of the Human Body". Abstract, difficult to
read, writing with an annoyingly individualistic intonation which clouds
interpretation of the authors points. The last four pages, detailing the
three bodies, and a potential fourth was the best part. It served its
purpose by reminding me there are those who philosophize about the
somatic, and that it is a deep, sublime topic which demands attention.
However, at the moment, I suppose I have little attention for the esoteric.



My fur idea continues to evolve. Rather than place something on the back, why
not a sleeve? It could also serve as a fur breadboard of sorts for
experimenting with lilypads. Taking the purple mohair and burgundy rayon
lining, I set off to 6 hours of sowing. I envision the mohair as being an
extension of my body, sensing, smelling, seeing. It turned out well, if not
too small. I underestimated the amount of fabric need to make the edges look
good. Finally, a bit of warmth at ITP.



... I continued to add a battery and RGB LED, both based on Lilypad
technology to the glove. I used the sowing machine to sow Bekitex
conductive thread to connect the battery and LED.



Here are a few observations:

The lilypad battery unit is extremely difficult to turn on and off if
you can't see the switch. Blindly grasping for the switch is very
difficult.

Fray check and the conductive thread work together beautifully.

Sow the conductive thread to the fabric first.

Plan the circuits out, IE, which side you want the electronics and thus
the conductive thread to be on.



Make sure the fabric, if covering the LED, is not flush on the LED as it
will effect the amount of escaping light.

Once you tie the conductive thread to something, it will need to be
re-cut and tied in order to attach it to something else.

The battery is much heavier than I thought, bogging down the inner
layer, and is the only lilypad component from which solder needs to be
smoothed in order to prevent scratching.

Working with circular fabric sucks, do your wiring work when the fabric
is flat.




-- Wed, 24 Oct 2007 22:28 -0400

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