Sensing Wearables

Sensing Wearablesexploring sensors for wearable technology Rain Ashford | http://rainycatz.wordpress

Agenda Introduction  Hello!  Microcontrollers  Makers, Hackers & communities Sensors vs. Actuators  What’s a sensor?  What’s an actuator? Examples of usage in wearable technology Conclusions on wearable technology

I create interactive wearables and art, working with many flavours ofmicrocontrollers & various components…

LilyPad Arduino Microcontroller Conductive Thread E-Textiles C (ish) Programming Sensors Actuators Hacked Electronics Conductive items Wearables Sound Artworks Games All Interactive

LilyPad Arduino Microcontroller Fabulousness Could be improved! It’s sewable!  It’s not cheap! It’s open source – you can find  More modules please the Eagle files & code libraries online  Different sizes and shapes of Good number of digital & board analogue I/O  Different microcontrollers Great vector for encouraging girls/ boys /adults/ artists /anyone / to experience  An industrial version with electronics possibility of using different voltages It’s round (dismisses the idea that electronics are sharp grey  More competitors, to increase and cold) innovation Enthusiastic & helpful community  Different types of I/O

A few examples of my wearableelectronics & artworks…

There’s a fantastic community for hardware & code hackers, makers & enthusiasts in the UK

..oh yes I was going to talk about sensors!

Components: Sensors vs. ActuatorsA sensor is an input device / an actuator an output deviceSensors Actuators Input: stimulus / A physical  Input: electrical signal - current, quantity, property, or condition voltage, phase, frequency, etc, which is measured  Output: mechanical (force, Output: electrical signal - pressure, displacement) or display current, voltage, phase, frequency function (light, display, dial indication, etc)Variations: output can sometimes bedisplacement:thermometers, magnetostrictive andpiezoelectric sensors.Some sensors combine sensing *and*actuation.

Actuators for wearable technology include… LEDs  Electroluminescent Wire LCD / OLED Display Servos Motors Piezoelectric buzzers Speakers Electroluminescent Panels

Sensors for wearable technology include… Optical, Light & Sound  GPS Temperature & Humidity  Compass / magnetic field Energy Harvesting  Weight Radiation / Environment  Pressure / Force Heart Rate  RFID Proximity / object detection  Electric Current / Potential Gas & Liquid / Chemical  Touch Inertial  WiFi Biosensor  EEG

Some examples of projects using sensors in wearable technology…

Sports McLaren Human Telemetry SystemOriginally developed for F1, also used in sports such as football, rugby, & cycling Combines several sensors:  Heart  Blood Oxygen  Respiratory  Temperature Future:  Looking into core temp via swallow-able thermometer pill to combat heat exhaustion  Sensors woven into fabrics  Bespoke sensor shirts

Medical University of Illinois: Epidermal ElectronicsLess than the width of a human hair, adheres to the skin like a temporary tattoo Currently in development to monitor:  Heart  Brain  Muscle activity  Could also be used for gaming Powered from energy from:  Solar Cells  Electromagnetic Radiation Features:  Stretchy – moves with skin  Less invasive than traditional sensors  No gels / sticky pads / wires  Adheres to the skin via water soluble plastic

Military / Extreme EnvironmentThe Australian National University: SLIVER cells Lightweight and tough bifacial solar panels Features:  Lightweight – paper/ hair thickness  Tough  Bifacial – absorbs light on both sides  Flexible  Can be used in various environmental conditions

Self Monitoring / Lifestyle Nottingham Trent University: Micro‐device Encapsulation TechnologyElectronically Active Intelligent Yarn for Self Monitoring, Medical, Fashion & Industrial Sensor Yarns might include:  Strain measurement  Temperature Measurement  Fluid / Gas Measurement  Radiation Sensing  Light measurement  Acoustic measurement  Motion detection  Pressure measuement

Fashion / Performance Rainbow Winters: Sensing FashionUses sensing inks and components for fashion & performance garments Garments include use of:  Thermochromatic ink  Hydrochromic ink  Sound sensing  Electroluminescents  Holographic fabrics

Art / Making KOBAKANT: How To Get What You WantOnline database of range of wearable technology and soft circuit solutions http://www.kobakant.at Sensor making instructions inc:  Conductive PomPom  Crochet Button  Crochet Tilt Poteniometer  Fabric Stretch Sensors  Felted Crochet Pressure  Knit Contact Switch  Knit Accelerometer

Wearable Tech / E-Textiles An emerging technology Is at a stage similar to where personal computing was in the 80s, but it’s on the verge of an explosion of ideas & manufacture Interest in sensing wearables is predominant in entertainment, sport, medical, extreme envirnoments, military and lifestyle areas and is where the funding opportunities are Obviously lots of opportunity al for innovation and room for more start-ups/creators – but artists and makers need more industry support working as sole traders with expensive components & flaky business arrangements Exciting advancements in research for creators – such as embeded micro components, MEMS, inks and fabric pick & place sewing machines Conductive embroidery / weave which has embeded LEDs, electroluminescents, sensors & acutators will change the aesthetics of designing circuitry

Wearable Tech / E-Textiles will be improved by… Emerging tech could thrive faster with more open source collaboration and sharing of ideas Smart fabrics & wearable technology is still looking for a killer app to bring it closer to mainstream acceptability / integration Necessity for more standards and classifications Sustainability – recycling, reusing, repurposing - supply chain isn’t yet set up for wearable tech A lot of focus on the technology, but not enough on what the consumer wants: design, uses, size Marketing focus – sales, dissemination, tech know how - how do we help the public understand and use? Developments in battery / power supply tech: less bulky, better longevity, lighter, comfortable Washable circuits, sensors and microcontrollers – to gain acceptability they need robustness and logivity

Many thanks! @Rainycathttp://rainycatz.wordpress.com Rain Ashford 2011

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Sensing Wearables

by Rain Ashford on Nov 29, 2011

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Sensing Wearables — Presentation Transcript