Project Scale: New dimensions of interaction
Digital technology and their interfaces have become mediums through which humans interact with. We spent time communicating, sharing, creating and consuming information mostly through a 6 inch screen. These kind of interfaces are great enablers, empowering us, and making us feel connected but in fact separating us from the reality we live in and alter human behavior. We lose sight in who we are, slowly becoming the fuel ourselves that lets the world behind the 6 inch screen grow. How might create new dimensions of interactions that will fuel us with confidence, inspiration, and guidance to flourish in the world we live in?
We live in a constant exchange of information. Technology enables us to stay connected and go after our endeavors on the fly. There are so many activities humans are able to pursue using the technology behind the screen that we often find ourselves losing sight of the real world. We continue to become more in sync (effective) completing tasks by touching a screen, while we get more and more out of sync (inefficient) living in a society and focusing on what matters most.
Research has shown that most of us spend more than seven hours a day staring at digital screens. Day after day it consumes our attention whether it's for work or in our spare time. This has a significant impact on our physical and mental wellbeing and perhaps shapes human evolution.
As we go about our daily lifes we repeatedly lose the natural flow of any activity we carry out. This little device which seems to be a digital extension of us is taking over and interrupts the way we live.
[noun in-ter-feys; verb in-ter-feys, in-ter-feys]
When we speak about interfaces, the majority of people think about digital screens which we can interact with. Screens can be found everywhere throughout our daily activities. However, interface can be described as a "face-to-face," a place where things, or people, or people and things meet. Any common boundary or area of convergence can be an interface.
With technology advancing there are many new ways of interacting with technology and each other. However, some of the technologies are unfortunately not enabling us but paralyzing us in the way we do things. Clothing or textiles are playing a meaningful part in our lifes. In every culture it serves many different purposes. Most importantly though, it provides protection and comfort. We dress ourselves everyday while it enables us to navigate through varied environments. Combining clothes and technology might empower us to live our lifes more purposeful and fuels the continuation of natural momentum we have in our endeavors.
Interactive textiles are made similar to textiles we know from our own wardrobes. However, there are a few different ways of how the individual fiber is built. To design a surface that people can interactive with we need conductive materials that pick up the strokes and translate these digitally. All of the structures however have a something in common. A metal wire(s) are used as the conductive material. These are woven together with normal threads creating a conductive textile layer. Most times it is composed of three parts. The textile layer, surrounding the elastic core and metal wires.
Conductive yarn can be woven into almost anything. The important consideration lies within the layout of how the individual conductive yarns are arranged. Once woven into the fabric, the floating yarns will be connected to an electrical interposer, which is a flexible Printed Circuit Board. After the yarns are connected, the PCB links to the sensing module which picks up any gesture movement on the conductive surface. This module is able to pick up gestures like tap, hold, X-Y, distance between taps, and gesture click time. Finally there is the processing module which houses the microprocessor and communication between the PCB and the outside world.
Looking at common interaction design patterns and human behavior there are some simple and intuitive ways the user is able to interact with textiles. Depending on where the interface is placed on the garment the user can for example tap, hold, and brush to take action. Furthermore there are additional haptics like sound, vibration, temperature, or lights which can be used to communicate different states.
Tap the interactive area to select, continue or respond to an action/ question asked by the assistant (yes/no).
Hold or squeeze the hand onto the interactive garment and the user may cancel, pause or start an activity.
Brush over the garment may indicate swiping, or changing a current state such as switching to the next message.
Additional haptics such as vibration or lights may compliment the interaction and communication.
We are often reduced by what we wear. Clothes play such a big role in our lifes and usually there is an outfit for any occasion, especially when it comes to occupation. It serves our needs and supports us in everything we do.
Interactive attire focusing on your body performance and well-being. A more natural way to track vitals, interact with training tools, and music, to have more time focusing on the process rather than the outcome.
Interactive and functional uniform that supports critical sequences in emergencies. An opportunity to be more efficient, safer and effective while interacting tools, the team and the people involved.
A way to stay focused and connected with your colleagues and family while spending less time looking at the phone. A fashionable enabler that makes life more healthy, comfortable and a little bit more exciting.
A way to get around while being connected and not distracted. A jacket that enables the commuter to get directions, take phone calls and more while focusing on the commute.
Toys and educational tools (ie. Teddy bear) designed for children to interact with the physical world in a more exciting and meaningful way.
The possibilities are endless. Using textiles as the medium to create new interfaces opens up new doors and ways how we might interact with the world. From military purposes to automotive features to furniture and toys.
Three short videos visualizing some of the features formed in the concept creation.
