Electrotactile Wearables
By Ty Van de Zande & Ashley Beatty
We have complementary skill sets + an interest in ethics.
Why Collaborate?
Materials & Tools
We use screen printed circuitry to create fabric-based computer interfaces. The DIY print techniques allow conductive and illuminative inks to be layered and connected to a microprocessor.
By creating this electronic system, the code we write can recognize touch-interaction patterns, illuminate segmented displays, or give
a user haptic stimulation.
Technology
Electroluminescent capacitors work because a material is trapped between two parallel and shaped electrodes. Alternating Current builds charge between the electrodes , and this causes electromagnetic field (EMF) to form. The EMF charges the Phosphor like glow-in-the-dark lights, then release that energy as light when the AC signal switches directions. Like crystals (as mentioned in Amanda Dean's project), the phosphor can change color based on impurities in the crystal structure. To illuminate, the phosphor requires high voltage. We re-purposed those electronics to additionally stimulate the skin as haptic input and to register touch interaction from a user.
Affordances
Unlike conventional circuitry and LEDs, the materials used in this process are flexible; they can be designed to any shape and can be twisted or bent with the fabric substrate. The same circuitry can function as both input and output to an arduino. The input/output states can be programmed to interact with a user for complex tasks.
Challenges
The materials in their current form have many challenges. The circuits must be printed on a fabric with little to no porosity: fine weave, coated fabrics with little texture work best. The prints also cannot stretch and still require conventional hardware to interface with an arduino.
In order to function as haptic output, the print must make full and stable skin contact. This has proven to be the most interesting challenge. A form fitting stretch knit garment would satisfy this requirement. The fabric would move with the body, wrinkle only slightly and recover quickly, maintaining contact. Unfortunately, if we print on a stretch fabric, the print will break. So we’re strategically combining stretch and printed non stretch components together in one garment.
Challenges
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Haptic input requires direct skin contact
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Still requires conventional hardware
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Requires fine weave coated fabrics
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Can’t stretch
Affordances
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Soft fabric circuits designed in any shape
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Input and output in same circuitry
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Scalable manufacturing process
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Flexible illumination
Affordances
-
Soft fabric circuits designed in any shape
-
Input and output in same circuitry
-
Scalable manufacturing process
-
Flexible illumination
Challenges
-
Haptic input requires direct skin contact
-
Still requires conventional hardware
-
Requires fine weave coated fabrics
-
Can’t stretch
Process / Speculative Design
What do we learn from building physical prototypes with the embedded circuitry?
Can we reframe the concept of electrical
shock to functional stimulation?
What is the appropriate garment or accessory
for this technology to have an impact?
What do we learn from building physical prototypes with the embedded circuitry?
Can we reframe the concept of electrical
shock to functional stimulation?
What is the appropriate garment or accessory
for this technology to have an impact?
We built low-fidelity physical prototypes to use as objects of conversation, so we could think materially.
These artifacts were used as stepping stones to evolve concepts and applications of the technology.
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What's Next?
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Continue prototyping
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Systematic process and materials testing
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Hardware connection prototyping
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Durability / washability
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3D applications