Author: Zoe Roiati-Antonucci

✨🌸Twinkle Toes🌸✨

    

Concept

My project is a sock with twinkling lights on the tips of its toes triggered by a pressure sensor that sits under the big toe. When the pressure sensor is pressed, the LEDs light up one after the other from the blue one, to red, to green. I added some flowers to create a very playful, whimsical aesthetic.

Objective

My goal was to create something fun and cheerful during such a down and exhausting time. I could see this piece being more for children who enjoy dressing up in costume or for those in performance/dance who would like to add a twinkling light to their feet that help track their movements.

Process

First I flipped the sock inside-out and sewed in the CPX and LEDs

*NOTE* I cut up a piece of paper and wedged it in-between the CPX and the fabric so it wouldn’t burn out.

  

Then I added the pressure sensor on the other side where the big toe would go.

 

I made sure none of the wires crossed over each other. If they needed to cross paths, I made sure they were looped on opposite sides of the fabric.

Finally, I tested it out.

I taped a paper barrier to my foot to avoid the CPX coming in direct contact with my skin.

  

As a way to cover up the messy wires and add a more fun fairy-like aesthetic, I added some flowers on the surface.

  

Materials List

• White cotton sock
• Conductive thread
• 1 Blue LED, 1 Red LED, 1 Green LED
• Circuit Playground Express
• 200 Ohm resisters & 10k Ohm resistors
• Fake flowers and leaves
• Paper

Reflection and Next Steps

I’m super happy with the turn out. I had little to no issues with the code. They only part that gave me problems sometimes were the LEDs and resistors coming loose and I would have to tighten the thread a little bit. If I were to take this further I would definitely add a second sock  and experiment with different LED patterns. I would probably add a few other LEDs around the entire sock. Finally I would probably spend more time creating a better barrier between the device and my direct skin as opposed to just paper.

Resources and Related Works

Skechers. (n.d.). S Lights: Sweetheart Lights.

Retrieved from  https://www.skechers.com/kids/girls/s-lights-sweetheart-lights/302059L.html

 

 

Concept & Objective 

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I decided to created a wearable that represents the feeling of love and/or gratitude. I made a little heart shaped necklace that sits above your heart. To activate it, you must wear a finger piece and place your hand over your heart. It lights up when you show that you feel moved or “touched”.

Process

 

 

First I put together the circuit.

The conductive fabric connects to pin A3 and GND.

I then traced out a case made out of cotton in the shape of a heart.

I then sandwiched the two heart shape pieces onto the circuit and sewed them together.

Finally traced out the spots where I needed to cut the cotton out so that the conductive fabric could be visible.

The finger piece is made out of of the same cotton and conductive thread.

 

Parts List

• Felt
• Cotton
• Conductive thread
• Thread
• Circuit Playground Express
• Conductive Fabric

Reflection 

The main thing I would like to continue working on for this project is hooking it up to a portable battery as opposed to having it plugged into my computer, as well as making it a bit more portable itself and not as bulky.

Also, next time I make a ring, I should instead use an elastic fabric that hugs the finger because the cotton just slips off.

Inspiration

My greatest inspiration for this piece came from “Iron Man,” the first movie of it’s series. Where Tony Stark’s partner Pepper, places his spare life saving device is a case surrounded by the words “Proof That Tony Stark Has A Heart.”

References

Favreua, J. (Director.) (2008). Iron Man [Film]. Paramount Pictures.

 

Process 

I call this wearable the ✨HUMAN CLAW MACHINE✨ It’s purpose is to act as an extra set of tendons that connect to someone’s fingertips and through the device’s transverse carpal ligament. When the strings are pulled down, the fingers close and when the strings are released, the elastic bands on the back of the hand spring the fingers back up.  It works best for picking up small objects like a lipstick, or a tool. It would be designed to protect its’ user from electrocution from water or any other external weather conditions.

(Please excuse this terrible hand drawing)

Some other benefits of The Human Claw Machine are:

• Want to exercise your hand with a stress ball but need a bit of extra support?  Pull on those strings for assistance!
• Did you fall asleep on your arm at night causing it to go numb? Water is an excellent way to alleviate a cramp. But oh no! The water is on the side of the bed that is only reachable by your numb hand. Have no fear, use The Human Claw Machine to grab it efficiently. Use the good hand to pull the strings on the bad hand so you don’t have to roll over and further disturb your sleep to reach over for your water.

Materials

The base of the device would most likely be some type of glove that fits over the hand and all fingers separately. Because I want it to be water resistant, it would mostly likely be a soft leather-based glove. The ringlets that wrap around the fingers and wrist will be made out of stainless steel (similar to the metal that makes up my S’well bottle below). The stainless steel would act as a water resistant metal that wouldn’t rust over in harsh weather conditions as well as make the device wearable while bathing.

  

Inspiration 

As I had mentioned in my introduction on Teams, I have a great interest in prosthetics. There is this company in Montreal that designs fashionable prosthetics. They’re called ALLELES Design Studio. My dream goal is to design very whacky looking prosthetics that may look like they don’t function well but in fact function in ways no one would ever think is possible.

My second inspiration is the character “Gazelle” from the movie “Kingsman: The Secret Service” played by Sofia Boutella. The character uses deadly prosthetic blades that double as her legs.

 

References 

(n.d.). Retrieved January 19, 2021, from https://alleles.ca/

Vaughn, Matthew. (Director). (2014). KingsMan: The Secret Service [Film]. 20th Century Studios.