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For this expressive wearable, I want to make something to react with the movement of shaking legs. The piece will mount on a shoe with a shoelace. A CPX will be placed inside the designed case. Through my observation, shaking leg is a common action that can reflect one’s psychological reaction to certain things. This initial idea was coming from a Texas poker game experience with my friends. When holding a good pair of hole cards (two cards in hand), he shakes his leg in a higher than usual frequency. While with a plain pair of cards, he stops shaking his leg and may fold his cards within the first two rounds. Also with a good pair of cards but other players are raising the bet, he will step his feet in a low frequency which means he is calculating the chance of winning. In a poker game, players are more focused on the face of their opponents.  Experienced players can guess their opponent’s card by watching the micro-expressions on their faces. With good control on their faces, they may have less control over their lower body.

Inspired by this poker experience and previous shoe customization experience, I have gained the idea of making an add-on device on the shoe. This pleasant shaker shows the tiny expressions of happiness through habits people rarely pay attention to. A straw shows which way the wind blows. A small detail can change something really big.

The CPX is programmed in three modes: constant sparking mode when no motion detected, an animation loop of LEDs when shaking legs, a circle of light blue colour LEDs with stepping (triggered while walking or stamp).

Sparkling LEDs in a loop represent quiet and calm thinking.

Animation LEDs represent excitement.

Light blue LEDs represent thinking in progress.

Objective

By making this project, I want to make myself pay more attention to the small behaviours. Body language can reflect more pieces of information about a person than simply using oral language. Take good control of my own body helps me organized the body and take the initiative in certain things.

Process

Start case prototype trying to fit the CPX.

Second prototype. Resizing the mould.

Third Prototype. Adding pattern to the lid. (Printing horizontally. Failed)

Fourth Prototype. Soften the edges and print vertically.

Fifth Prototype. Chang to Black resin for lower transparency.

(Not perfect with the lid)

Sixth Prototype. FINALLY!!!

Assemble on the shoe.

Sparkling Mode

Sparkling

Shaking Mode

Animation LEDs

Sramp Mode

Light Blue LEDs

Material list

The CPX

USB-C Cord

LCD 3D Printer

LCD Transparent/Black Resin

Girlfriend’s Nike Air Force 1

Code

Reflection & Next Step

The final result turns out better than I expected. In my first four moulds, I was planned to add a battery in the back of the case. However, I have tried a few methods to connect the CPX and battery, but it doesn’t work. It is a good inspired project which I can develop further with more sizes of the circuit board. For future development, I will definitely optimize the code for a more accurate reaction to the movement.

References

Prior, O. (2021). MakeCode Introduction [Online Lecture]. Retrieved from https://canvascloud.ocadu.ca/courses/1271/pages/makecode-introduction-45-minutes?module_item_id=109475

Prior, O. (2021). Basic Circuits & Circuit Demonstration [Online Lecture]. Retrieved from https://canvascloud.ocadu.ca/courses/1271/pages/basic-circuits-and-circuit-demonstration-~30-min?module_item_id=108562

Octopus Protecting System (OPS). It is a group of multifunctional modules with octopus-like suckers that allow them to travel on the skin and provide any functions we need. OPS’s modules are managed by a super AI and powered by our body temperature, modules store the energy which body generate and transfer into the energy we need under different situation. The materials of the OPS are biobased and combined like living cells, this material has high ductility and moldability just like slime. These modules can be self-edit by the customers, and they can use the modules anyway they want. The OPS modules can use as a camera holder to bound the cameras on our body and stabilize the lens. They can wrap around the injured part and providing basic medical treatment such as stop bleeding and reducing weight applied to the injured part. These modules have infinite possibilities, they can use as a wallet, goggles, earphones, helmet, body armour…anything one can imagine or cannot imagine.

The OPS is suited for the human species. It designed as an ultimate tool that helps human lives easier, reach higher and dive deeper. When it activates, It can shape into any shape. In inactive mode, it will move around the body like a moving cloth which collects energy the body generates. It reacts directly with human subconsciousness, when we need any functions, they will react faster than we can even notice. The OPS is the most loyal assistant one could ever have.

This idea was inspired by a BBC documentary called “Blue Planet II.” In the fifth episode, a group of ocean scientists filmed how an octopus lives in the ocean jungle. They film how the octopus hunt and use shells protect itself from other predators. This idea is also similar to Iron Man’s nano suit in Avengers: Infinity War. This OPS idea is way beyond what current technology can reach. However, this is what human are born for, to reach our imagination.

Drawing

Mood board

Paper prototype

Similar reference

The tags from my brainstorm are Teddy, Hug, Hat. So, I made a really fast prototype with my KAWs plush and my girlfriend’s Nike hat with two zip ties. And developed further with my imaginations.

Lazy Teddy Bear Bucket Hat Black. (n.d.). Retrieved January 19, 2021, from https://madainchina.com/products/13-de-marzo-lazy-teddy-bear-bucket-hat

Osmo Pocket – DJI. (n.d.). Retrieved January 19, 2021, from https://www.dji.com/ca/osmo-pocket