The document introduces wearable technology and discusses its history and various examples. It focuses on how sewable electronics like the LilyPad Arduino microcontroller have helped creatives incorporate technology into their work. Sensors and actuators are described along with examples of integrating them into interactive wearables. The document concludes that the availability of sewable electronics is revolutionizing creative fields and that wearable technology will continue improving through standards, sustainability efforts, more user-focused design, and developments in batteries and washable components.

1. Introduction to Wearable Technology for Creatives
Rain Ashford
Dept. Of Computing, Goldsmiths, University of London
http://rainycatz.wordpress.com

2. Agenda
 Hello!
 In the beginning…
 Some favourite examples of wearable technology
 Maker and Hacker culture’s influence
 Sewable electronics: LilyPad Arduino
 Sensors & actuators
 Three examples of my work
 Summary points on wearable technology

3. Hello, my name is Rain and I create interactive wearables and art, working with
many flavours of microcontrollers & various components…

4. In the beginning…
Wearable technology of yore: heavy, messy, angular & clunky

5. Beam me up Scotty…
..sci-fi has a lot to answer for!

6. But we’re moving on from when wearable tech
evoked thoughts of axe grinding cyborgs, serf
robots, toasters and space pirates…

7. Meanwhile in real life…
The miniaturization of technology has changed how people build & use wearable tech &
electronics; they’re no longer comprised of cold, bulky sharp, boxy & ugly components that
you might prefer to remain hidden

8. Wearable technology is a diverse area,
and can be fashionable, whimsical, fun,
practical, arty, serious, protective,
interactive, sensing, medical, energy
harvesting, communicating,
musical and lots more…

9. Some favourite examples of wearable technology…
Sensing: Clothing by Rainbow Winters:
‘Polymer Opal’ Lycra Dress
Mondrian & Pettal Dress:
thermochromatic reactive
to light, colour changing
inks
Thunderstorm Dress: lights up to sound

10. Energy Harvesting: clothing Energy harnessing space suits, NASA
Motivating Undergraduates in Science
and Technology initiative
In-shoe device: University of Wisconsin-
Madison
An in-shoe device designed to harvest the The suits incorporate piezoelectric zinc-
energy that is created by walking, and oxide nanowires which creates a charge
store it for use in mobile electronic devices in response to physical strain like
bending or twisting, which could be
used to charge the suit’s electronics

11. Medical: Epidermal Electronics 1960s wearable insulin pump
Electronic tattoo, University of Illinois
Monitors electrophysiological signals
associated with the heart, other muscles
and brain activity
2012 artificial pancreas & insulin pumps
in development as shown by Gil de Paula
of Pancreum at WT Conference 2012

12. 3D Printing: Fashion
The first fully printed 3D bikini by
Continuum Fashion, printed in nylon 12
and available to be printed to order from
Continuum’s Shapeways shop
The N12 was designed using Rhino 3D
CAD software and specially written
algorithmic script to create the structure
of the 3D printed fabric. The algorithm
uses a complex 'circle packing'
equation on an arbitrarily doubly curved
surface (the bikini). Andreia Chaves’ printed shoes

13. Self Monitoring: wearable devices
A selection of wearable self-monitoring
devices initially made popular by
Quantified Self movement, Fitbit, Nike
Fuel, NuMetrex, Wakemate, Zeo, Jawbone-
UP, Philips, NeuroSky Mindwave

14. Hacker & Maker Culture’s influence on Creativity
The growth of hacker / maker culture & communities has inspired a new group of creatives to
evolve and enter the tech industries

15. New Business Opportunities &
Online Communities
..a convergence of readily available electronic components, shared knowledge through
communities and open source approaches to technology has broken barriers to learning &
creativity

16. Sewable Electronics
For me, the availability of sewable electronics & e-textiles has revolutionised the way I and
many other artists & designers work

17. ..plus the styling of some of these components has made them more attractive to work with

18. …allowing me create much more
elegant work

19. …incorporating the technology into the
design

20. The LilyPad!
Pin 1 - TX/D1
Pins 2,3,4 - D2, D3, D4
Pin 5 - GND or "-" (ground)
Pin 6 - VCC or "+" (power)
Pins 7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15 - D5 through to D13
Pins 16,17,18,19,20,21 - A0 through to A5 (analog pins)

21. The Arduino IDE comes with access to tons of sketch libraries which are all open
source and easily downloadable into your editor to use as they are, or customise
to your specific needs and great for people just starting out with programming.

22. LilyPad Arduino
Microcontroller
What I combine with it:
 Conductive Thread
 E-Textiles
 C (ish) Programming
 Sensors
 Actuators
 Hacked Electronics
 Conductive items
To make:
 Wearables
 Sound Artworks
 Games
 All Interactive

23. Sensors…
The availability of sensors in particular that allowed me to bring my ideas to fruition

24. DIY Sensors (and actuators)!
..plus there’s lots of information out there on how to make your own!

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

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

27. 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  Electric Current /
detection Potential
 Gas & Liquid / Chemical  Touch
 Inertial  WiFi
 Biosensor  EEG

28. Sensors, actuators, industry and creatives - bringing it all together
In my research I’m starting to note key areas of sensor & actuator usage, against groups &
areas of usage…

29. Hacking existing tech & combining sensors has allowed me to make pieces such as
‘You Make My <3 Flutter’: a proximity detecting, heart rate sensing ‘techlace’ visualising
physical signs

30. And for looking at social interaction -‘Yr In Mah Face’: temperature /mood sensing t-shirt
- uses Celsius temperature data from a sensor, averages it, then visualises the results via
LEDs.

31. I’m also interested in practical uses - Don’t Break My Heart is a wearable, colour-coded
distance warning system prototype for cyclists to wear on their back

32. LilyPad Arduino Microcontroller
• Fabulousness • My wish list
 It’s sewable!  An industrial version
 It’s open source – you can find  Make it cheaper
the Eagle files & free code  More modules please
libraries online / with IDE  Different sizes and shapes of
 Good number of digital & board
analogue I/O  Choice of microcontrollers
 Great vector for encouraging  Variable voltages
girls/ boys /adults/ artists
/anyone / to experience  More competitors, to increase
electronics innovation (Flora, Seeedstudio)
 It’s round (dismisses the idea that  Development of washable
electronics are sharp grey and conductive thread
cold)
 Enthusiastic & helpful community

33. Summary: exciting time for e-textiles & wearable tech
 Availability of sewable electronics is revolutionising the work of artists &
designers
 Self-monitoring movement i.e. Quantified Self is pushing wearable tech into
the mainstream
 Hackspaces & online communities are helping demystify electronics & coding
 Open Source ethos is sharing & making knowledge more accessible
 Small Maker start-ups are changing the face of tech entrepreneurs
 Sewable electronics are inspiring a broader demographic to become
interested in electronics & coding
 School age students are investigating electronics & code via e-textiles and
wearable tech

34. Summary: wearable tech will be improved by
 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

35. Thank you for your attention!
@Rainycat
http://rainycatz.wordpress.com
Rain Ashford 2012