Soft-wear: identifying meaningful design spaces for wearable technology. Odette Valentine School of Engineering & Design

Transcription

1 Soft-wear: identifying meaningful design spaces for wearable technology Odette Valentine School of Engineering & Design Supervisor: Dr Sharon Baurley Smart input from: David Topham

2 Smart? Sharp Elegant Intelligent Efficient

3 Technology is not enough "Wearable Technology has to date aimed to exploit Smart developments without necessarily fully exploring the needs and desires of potential adopters This has lead to some disillusionment with over-engineered, gimmicky products which offer few benefits over hand-held or portable devices This presentation looks at a framework for identifying productive design spaces for meaningful Wearable Technology......and in doing so presents a wider view applicable to the introduction of Smart Systems in general

4 What do we mean by wearable technology?

5 Diana Dew Gareth Pugh SS06 Mortiz Waldemayer for Hussein Chalayan AW Used expressively & visually

6 digital fashion product - today

7 Cute Circuit dress for Katy Perry. Wearable technologies- today

8 Aims & objectives Elucidate the nature of the new relationships required between the designer and the user/consumer that will catalyse the development of meaningful wearable technology Design and produce (in conjunction with users via digital technologies) novel modular garment platforms demonstrating various levels of integration of electronic textile components. Remain design led and practice based.

9 Initial Approach Identify user needs /product spaces where (fashion) design can play a significant role in increasing consumer acceptance Based on two propositions Existing and new affordances of clothing can mitigate the form factors suggested by the limits of the technology Fashion objects can create cultural value alongside functional value

10 What do our clothes say about us?

11 Source: United States News, September 14, 1945 What do our clothes say about us?

12 How do we furnish our identity? Fashion is the science of appearances and it inspires one with the desire to seem rather than to be. Edwin Hubbell Chapin

13 eanor_perkins1/ How do we furnish our online identity?

14 On-body systems Inputs Processing Outputs Generated SENSING by the body: WHAT, WHERE? -biological signals (electric, chemical) -mechanical (motion, pressure) Generated in relation to the body: -position /location -atmospheric conditions -other bodies -other things Harnessing & developing: HOW? micro electronics ubiquitous computing smart materials mobile telecoms portable power sources Integrating into wearable paradigms: clothing & accessories textiles Direction: WHY? transmit out feedback real time info Type: visual audio tactile / aromatic mechanical (shape/form) Effect/Function: communication body performance safety & protection mental stimulation

15 Effect /function communication safety & protection effect/ function body performance mental stimulation

16 Communication Visual signs symbols personal self identity group identity /affinity fashion clothing Life organiser Band T-shirt social emotional network Gifted jewellery Linguistic textural spoken professional social networking information exchange Smart mobile phone Security name badge

17 Body performance diagnosis Monitoring healthcare treatment Enhancing wellbeing physical & emotional balance hygiene nutrition Controlling sport fitness competitive performance

18 Mental stimulation analytical virtual scenarios Thinking creative work educational tools Learning memory education tourism/visitor attractions Pleasure free thinking diversion leisure visual & performing arts gaming heighten sensations film

19 Safety & protection Monitoring Alerting Active protection Vital signs Environmental hazards Location tracking Real time info forecasting Prevent physical harm Military Emergency response Vulnerable groups Unfamiliar environments Extreme environments

20 New digital economies Education Workplace Home connect interact retail leisure venues cultural venues Travel & transport engage Tourism Public services Open public spaces depend virtual spaces online communities

21 New digital ecologies wearable tech online store connect retail additional information & services interact customisation engage prosumer personalised product depend crowd sourcing design

22 Open design /crowd sourcing

23 New digital ecologies wearable tech authority know-how connect user generated know-how interact Feedback iterations physical resources engage depend hacking/diy online communities

24 DIY /hacker communities online

25 Over arching considerations control trust dependency expectations Product Standards & regulations acceptability sustainability accessibility Users desirability usability A map for the introduction of Smart Systems in general

26 Initial Findings / direction of ongoing research Designing for context is as important as designing for function Theis an ongoing role for the enthusiast (DIY/hacker/amateur) in the development of wearable tech The framework has underlinedthe need to understand acceptance factors for the user s context as well for the product Considering more generic effects/outputs leaves room for ambiguity in design and thus user appropriation

27 References [1] Ariyatum, B. (2005) New conceptual model for design development of smart clothing, Brunel University. [2] Breward,C. (2003) Fashion, Oxford University Press pp15 [3] Dunne, L. (2010) "Smart Clothing in Practice: Key Design Barriers to Commercialization", Fashion Practice: The Journal of Design, Creative Process & the Fashion Industry, vol. 2, no. 1, pp [4] Miller, D. (2005) Introduction in Clothing as Material Culture, eds. S. Kuchler& D. Miller New York: Berg, pp1-19 [5] Steele, V. (1989), Appearance and Identity in Men and Women: Dressing the Part, eds. C. Brush Kidwell & V. Steele Washington: Smithsonian Institute Press, pp [6] Svendsen, L. (2006) Fashion: A Philosophy, Oxford: Reaktion Books Ltd [7] Case, A.(2010) We are all cyborgsnow. TED Talk Dec

28 Thank you Acknowledgements: Dr Sharon Baurley, Priti Veja