“Moff” by Moff, Inc (2014)
Moff develops and produces human interface devices, making computers more friendly for humans.
“FingerReader” by fluid interfaces group (2014)
The FingerReader is a wearable device that assists in reading printed text. It is a tool both for visually impaired people that require help with accessing printed text, as well as an aid for language translation. Wearers scan a text line with their finger and receive an audio feedback of the words and a haptic feedback of the layout: start and end of line, new line, and other cues. The FingerReader algorithm knows to detect and give feedback when the user veers away from the baseline of the text, and helps them maintain a straight scanning motion within the line.
“Ka” by Cirque du Soleil, Puppets by Michael Curry (2004)
Michael Curry’s puppet design makes brilliant use of the human body and it’s ability to control and bring life to an inanimate form.
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“Soundsuits” by Nick Cave (2004)
Nick Cave’s Soundsuits utilize an array of ordinary objects, such as twigs, buttons, and hair, in an extraordinary way. He created oversized, African-inspired full-body suits which move and dance with visual and auditorial vibrance.
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“Ripple” by POSTmatter (2014)
“The postexhibition in Milan showcased three original artworks, each harnessing interactive technology to create immersive experiences, and explore new relationships to digital content.”
“SixthSense” by Pranav Mistry (2009)
This project was done at Carnegie Mellon and is the most technology I’ve ever seen on a body. It’s not even touchable, it’s just a projection on your body or any object that you can interact with. This is leaning more toward where I can envision wearable technology going in the future. Yet, this is the oldest project I’m referencing. What happened to this kind of wearable technology today?
“Arcus Motion Analyzer” by Arcus Motion (2014)
The Arcus ring is pretty awesome in that it does not only apply its technology to health and fitness, although it does market those features considering they’re the biggest reason people buy wearable tech. The Arcus does much more, though: it can use its motion analysis software to communicate with other technologies smoothly. It’s water proof and it can be connected via Bluetooth to any device that supports it. How applicable!
“x.pose” by Xuedi Chen (2014)
This dress gets more into applying software directly to the performance of the dress. The dress becomes a proclamation of your online activity, exposing the wearer. I’m curious…I find a lot of technology in clothing that seems to either have no real functional application, or is about health and fitness. What else can technology do in fashion other than make a statement or be about health? Hmm.
“Fe Wearables” by Noah Waxman (2011)
This project, like Kinematics fashion, uses technology to enhance the fashion quality as opposed to provide some kind of technology that collects data. Still, I find this idea of using technology to make clothing re-configurable to be full of potential.
Fe Wearables Kickstarter Campaign Video from noah waxman on Vimeo.
Kinematics by Nervous System Studio (2013)
This project doesn’t necessarily put technology into the dress for people to use. Instead, it uses technology to create a dress in a specific way, giving it a particular quality.
“4D-printed” shape-changing dress and jewellery by Nervous System from Dezeen on Vimeo.