Yesyesno

Testing wearable designs and stage prototypes

Just like how our left hemisphere and right hemisphere work together, or a better example --  when two musicians performing a duet --- we want to see what happens when we are coordinating actions with others. 

This project takes small forces from the hands of participants and scales them up, creating a stage where air, wind, fog, vibration can affect a crowd.  The project features wearable devices with embedded sensors which are worn by users who then use their muscles and body gestures to make the space "playable".    The goal is a supple, playful system that gives new powers to the wearer.   At the same time, small and large flying objects in the space are being used as a form of  visual aid to suggest that the "super power" or energy from the wearer are present -- forces which can be felt on the stage in form of a dramatic shake or gust of wind also made visual through unique forms that dance and animate. 

Some prototype testing can be viewed here:


Design iterations for wearable -- an electronics backpack

Prototyping a backpack to place the electronics.
We think a possibility is to place them on the back to have more space on the arm, because kid arms are small.
Prototype is made with leather and some backpack buckles to adjust different sizes. 

Testing materials, shapes and LEDs

This research shows different shapes for spikes that we can sew to the fabric to cover the arm band with the sensors and the electronics. We started to work in a modular way to get the look we are looking for. Also we are working with soft materials to make it safe for kids.
Some materials include leather (grey) and ninja flex printed in our new 3D printer (Ultimaker2).

The final shape allows us to include LEDs inside this spikes with a great look. This material is great spreading the light, you can see the images bellow.

more iterations.
Following the modular line, we are working in joints that can be easily attached and sewn to fabric. 3D printing another piece on PLA (blue) seems like it's working good.

Last version, not printed yet, includes holes to sew the PLA piece to the fabric, see last image bellow.