May 2022 - 7 weeks
Neo-TCH 1.3
In 2094, years after the bio-arm war, survivors were miraculously captured in MODIS satellite imagery. Following this discovery, a research team was formed to observe these inhabitants.
The initial reports from the scientists concluded that, as a result of self-isolation, these humans lacked all communication. To determine their potential for interaction, two inhabitants were studied in a temporary facility using custom wearable intervention artefacts. However, within a fortnight, the experiment was declared inconclusive.
The initial reports from the scientists concluded that, as a result of self-isolation, these humans lacked all communication. To determine their potential for interaction, two inhabitants were studied in a temporary facility using custom wearable intervention artefacts. However, within a fortnight, the experiment was declared inconclusive.
Role
Design Researcher, Wearable Technology, Soft Circuitry, Material Researcher
Collaborators
Anna Pragman︎︎︎
Tanvi Mishra︎︎︎
Design Researcher, Wearable Technology, Soft Circuitry, Material Researcher
Collaborators
Anna Pragman︎︎︎
Tanvi Mishra︎︎︎
The intervention
The garment - Neo-TCH 1.3 - enables the subjects to engange in non-verbal communication through sensors that are built with materials and visuals that are recognisable to the acclimatise the subjects.
Case Study
Neo-TCH 1.3 on test subjects. Attempt in interaction.
Stroke Sensor:
Resistive conductive thread embedded in fluffy yarn to encourage the act of “stroking”
Yarn Tap Sensor:
Conductive fabric layered in between yarn activated with a push.
IR Sensor:
Neo-TCH 1.3 has sensors across bodies to
keep the subjects completely engaged
Study Notes
The experiment was unsuccessful and further testing is required. After weeks of observation the inhabitants were reluctant to interaction and engagement.
Futures Wheel for
World Building
We used the Futures Wheel to construct our world and its ecosystem. Starting from a specific point within the ecosystem, we developed the narrative. Categorizing events by significant changes and their consequences helped guide our design decisions for the narrative and garment construction.
Process
It was crucial to begin the process with very detailed diagrams positioning the various types of materials in their individual layers.
Gestured Based Study
How can we reinvent sensors and their interactions?
Each sensor wased based off a gesture formed through an initial study of an immersive experiment.
Circuit Mapping Paper Prototypes
Material Research
Independently, I conducted study that looks closelsy into the insulation process of exposed conductive threads. I examined different glues and how they could effect the functionality of the garment.
Problem: Exposed conductive thread will not perform when there is excessive movement with the garment
Solution: Testing out different glues - Fabric, Craft, Wood, Spray and Super to see which would yeild better results in terms of performance.
Problem: Exposed conductive thread will not perform when there is excessive movement with the garment
Solution: Testing out different glues - Fabric, Craft, Wood, Spray and Super to see which would yeild better results in terms of performance.
Details on reasearch︎︎︎
View the PDF below:
The Insulation Process: A study of glues on conductive thread.
Volume 1︎︎︎ & Volume 2︎︎︎
View the PDF below:
The Insulation Process: A study of glues on conductive thread.
Volume 1︎︎︎ & Volume 2︎︎︎
Thank you to
Liza Stark, Designer and Soft Circuit Educator
Sands Fish, Future Expereince Designer
Katherine Moriwaki, Asst Prof of Media Design in the School
of Art, Media, and Technology
Nova Villanueva, Game Designer
Ayo Okunseinde, Designer and Anthropologist
Nai Davis, Artist, Educator and Musician
Daniel Lichtman, Creative Coder and Game Designer
Shaina Suri, Photography
Shashwath Santosh, Shoot Support
Amber Chen, Glove Construction
T Chen, Component Consultation
Liza Stark, Designer and Soft Circuit Educator
Sands Fish, Future Expereince Designer
Katherine Moriwaki, Asst Prof of Media Design in the School
of Art, Media, and Technology
Nova Villanueva, Game Designer
Ayo Okunseinde, Designer and Anthropologist
Nai Davis, Artist, Educator and Musician
Daniel Lichtman, Creative Coder and Game Designer
Shaina Suri, Photography
Shashwath Santosh, Shoot Support
Amber Chen, Glove Construction
T Chen, Component Consultation
Resources:
Tharakan, Mili John. “NeoCraft : Exploring Smart Textiles in the Light of Traditional Textile Crafts“. 2011,
Posch, Irene. “E-Textile Tooling: New Tools—New Culture?” Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, vol. 6, no. 1, Dec. 2017, p. 10.
Kohler, Andreas. “Anticipatory Eco-Design Strategies for Smart Textiles“. Delft University of Technology, 30 Sept. 2013
Wendy Hui Kyong, Chun. “On Software, or the Persistence of Visual Knowledge.” Grey Room, vol. 18, Winter 2005, pp. 26–51, doi:https://doi.org/10.1162/1526381043320741.
Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software by Charles Petzhold
The Fabric of Interface: Mobile Media, Design, and Gender by Stephen Monteir
Giles, Emilie, and Janet van der Linden. “Imagining Future Technologies: ETextile Weaving Workshops with Blind and Visually Impaired People.” Proceedings of the 2015 ACM SIGCHI Conference on Creativity and Cognition, ACM, 2015, pp. 3–12. ACM Digital Library, doi:10.1145/2757226.2757247
Nakamura, Lisa. “Indigenous Circuits: Navajo Women and the Racialization of Early Electronics Manufacture.” American Quarterly, vol. 66, no. 4, Dec. 2014, pp. 919–41, doi:https://doi.org/10.1353/aq.2014.0070.
Posch, Irene, and Ebru Kurbak. “CRAFTED LOGIC Towards Hand-Crafting a Computer.” Proceedings of the 2016 CHI Conference Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems, ACM, 2016, pp. 3881–3884. ACM Digital Library, doi:10.1145/2851581.2891101.
Tharakan, Mili John. “NeoCraft : Exploring Smart Textiles in the Light of Traditional Textile Crafts“. 2011,
Posch, Irene. “E-Textile Tooling: New Tools—New Culture?” Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, vol. 6, no. 1, Dec. 2017, p. 10.
Kohler, Andreas. “Anticipatory Eco-Design Strategies for Smart Textiles“. Delft University of Technology, 30 Sept. 2013
Wendy Hui Kyong, Chun. “On Software, or the Persistence of Visual Knowledge.” Grey Room, vol. 18, Winter 2005, pp. 26–51, doi:https://doi.org/10.1162/1526381043320741.
Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software by Charles Petzhold
The Fabric of Interface: Mobile Media, Design, and Gender by Stephen Monteir
Giles, Emilie, and Janet van der Linden. “Imagining Future Technologies: ETextile Weaving Workshops with Blind and Visually Impaired People.” Proceedings of the 2015 ACM SIGCHI Conference on Creativity and Cognition, ACM, 2015, pp. 3–12. ACM Digital Library, doi:10.1145/2757226.2757247
Nakamura, Lisa. “Indigenous Circuits: Navajo Women and the Racialization of Early Electronics Manufacture.” American Quarterly, vol. 66, no. 4, Dec. 2014, pp. 919–41, doi:https://doi.org/10.1353/aq.2014.0070.
Posch, Irene, and Ebru Kurbak. “CRAFTED LOGIC Towards Hand-Crafting a Computer.” Proceedings of the 2016 CHI Conference Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems, ACM, 2016, pp. 3881–3884. ACM Digital Library, doi:10.1145/2851581.2891101.
︎ Project Song Dedication - PFTDG︎︎︎