Concept

A hoodie that displays colour based on sound and motion, this is to express the wearer’s activities and emotions throughout their daily procedures. Our personality and actions define how we visually compose ourselves, this hoodie is an extension of ourselves that others can see. Using the colour orange to react to sound acts as a way to represent the user wants to engage in socializing with others or engaging in an activity with others. The user input generated colour blue can be a way for the user to display trust in others as the colour blue is a representation of trust.

Materials/Parts

• CPX
• Conductive Tape
• Conductive Thread
• Neopixel Strip of 10
• Black Hoodie
• Black T-shirt
• Conductive Fabric
• Cut piece of Black cloth

Objective

To express more emotions of ourselves through what we wear to ease the process of socialization and self-expression. A sound-reactive output and output from input via capacitive touch.

4 Points of Wearability 

• Comfort: A hoodie is a relatively comfortable everyday item, It can be used somewhat in warm weather and is almost necessary for many people in the colder segments of the year.
• Durability: A hoodie is mostly a durable piece of clothing, as the one I used for this is somewhat thick. In terms of water, due to electronic components wearing this in wet conditions would damage its electrical components.
• Aesthetics: Black is a colour that can go with most outfits people wear, As I have a cat and for anyone that owns a pet fur can get all over a hoodie and will show prominently when the colour is black.
• Usability: It can be used as an everyday casual wearable, for exercise due to extra layering it may not be viable.

Process

Ideation sketches:

Building:

led test

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KX8Va2zanwzwePYJ0cr5ysyQKbyBG4Oe/view?usp=sharing

Capacitive touch test

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LOBIS27T1VEXVi-YkSY1EGSMontSbph4/view?usp=sharing

Sound test

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1L8kWxCLDpL0q1U4D2Dzv0yzAUpyMRz60/view?usp=sharing

Final Project

Images:

Final project videos:

Startup

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Lnue9NpWTDOxFKtmypwwCKRPpDR687Qw/view?usp=sharing

Capacitive touch

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LitwQgglzKgHmzmN0UfTDbh83y5MQpkf/view?usp=sharing

Sound

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Lg77lfcmG5A0pascrL9tWlqWaP18Unh9/view?usp=sharing

Code

Circuit diagram

Reflections

for the build, it is still a bit rugged with the overlapping fabric being very rough around the edges. As my knitting is sub bar I did use tape but for other wearable projects I take on I rather would like to create a more unified and organized build through further improvement of my skills.

The makecode process was fairly simple, the code is more repetitive and maybe finding a way to condense it may have been more optimal.

The wiring does become loose at times affecting the lights upon the led strip but I managed to minimize the issue through various tests I conducted before fully assembling the build.

Next Steps

A led grid if possible as I tried to integrate one but a problem of power supply issues were rampant with such a component.

More capacitive touch panels or inputs would allow for more animations controlled by user input.

Creating animations for the strip would be a nice addition to the visuals of the build and further building upon the usage visually of the hoodie.

Resources, Work Cited

Stern, Becky. “Led AMPLI-Tie.” Adafruit Learning System,

https://learn.adafruit.com/led-ampli-tie/overview.

Stern, Becky. “Led Stego Flex Spike Hoodie.” Adafruit Learning System,

https://learn.adafruit.com/led-stego-flex-spike-hoodie?view=all.

Halleux, Peli de. “Neopixels with MakeCode.” Adafruit Learning System,

https://learn.adafruit.com/neopixels-with-makecode/external-strips.

Concept

The idea for this wearable came to me a few years ago when I was a councilor at my camp. It was my first year and one of the kids in my cabin was on the spectrum for Autism.  It was very hard to understand how or what he was feeling it made caring after him a little harder, but with is wearable the user can choose from 5 basic emojis on a soft pillow to explain how they are feeling.

Objective

The objective of this wearable is to make communication between people on the spectrum and neurotypicals better with the use of easy to understand pictures and lights. The emotions are for when a person with autism is stressed and cannot speak to convey their feelings, plus it is made into a pillow so it can take a little bit of a beating before it breaks.

Process

To create this pillow I made 5 different emojis into pressure buttons and sewed them onto the pillow then using regular thread.  I then connected all the buttons to the CPX using conductive thread turning them into buttons. Then using the coding software I made it so that when the corresponding button is pressed a specific colour is shown on the CPX.

Parts List

1.   felt
2. Circuit Playground Express
3. Conductive Thread
4. Conductive fabric

Circuit Diagram

Reflection

If I were to fix up this project a little bit, I would make the buttons into non-capacitive touch because sometimes there is feedback between the buttons and it causes the wrong colour to show up.

Automated Darkroom Light

–

Concept:

Originally, I wanted to work with the idea of having multiple inputs, using all of the key sensors on the playground express to detect environmental factors. My original concept was to create a device that reads schematics/ analytics of an environment to inform the user about their surroundings, as well as provide some source of information to increase mindfulness. As my project changed, I steered more towards the idea of creating a device that solely serves the purpose of providing safety features to the user. The current concept was to create a device that makes people feel safer by lighting up the environment around them, when the darkness passes a certain threshold. This is a feature that may be very useful in situations such as exercising outdoors late at night (running/walking/biking etc.) or simply exploring/ commuting during dark hours where it may be difficult to see around. The idea of the lights on this device being light sensitive can come in handy if the user wants to enter a well lit space and not have to manually enter any functions. For example, if the user is walking outside late at night, the light is a safety feature that helps light the environment around them, as well as alert drivers of pedestrian in question here, creating a safe experience for both the user and the people in the environment.

Objective:

My objective is to create a device that can be worn on the head that helps light up dark spaces for the user, as well as alert people in the environment such as drivers that there is a pedestrian nearby. Some goals I would like to meet include:

• Creating a suitable location for the device to be worn
• Attaching a few extra LEDs to contribute to the intention
• Setting maximum brightness to the device to ensure maximum efficiency
• Testing out the device in the environment intended for use, and ensuring it serves the function originally sought after

Comfort:

This device would be very comfortable to wear and use as it would be worn with a beanie in my model, however it is not limited to that! I believe that is one of the best parts of this design, it can be worn on multiple areas of the body while still serving its function greatly. In my design, I put it on my beanie, directly in the center as I felt it was a good location for a device of its nature. People that work in the dark typically wear headlamps on their forehead/ head, so this would be an extension of that idea, with more features as well as increased comfort. Since the concept is intended for people such as late night runners or bikers, comfort is of great importance and I feel the flexibility of where the device may be worn contributes greatly to this. Some areas the device can be worn include:

• Forehead/ head (as a beanie, headband, hat, scarf etc.)
• Back (as a backpack, back of t-shirt/hoodie/jacket, back of headband/ etc.)
• Chest (as a t-shirt/ hoodie/ jacket, necklace)
• Arm (as an attachment to a t-shirt/ hoodie/ jacket, armband etc.)

Durability:

This device would ultimately be very durable, mostly because of the flexibility of where it can be located. The device doesn’t cover much more surface area than the playground express itself, meaning there isn’t much room for the device to take a hit or face any sort of tension unless applied directly to the device, which in regular use, is very unlikely to happen. Since the device can be unattached and even put away in the pockets for later use, this helps protect the device from the elements incase it needs to be put away immediately. Speaking of elements, the device would likely lack in protection against the elements unless diffused or protected by some sort of filament or plastic/ glass that would house it, as for the most part, the LEDs are exposed (as intended). The exposed LEDs are an intended feature to ensure maximum efficiency, although this efficiency can be kept consistent if the device is houses in some sort of completely transparent housing such as a plastic bag or a plexiglass box.

Usability:

I felt that this device so direct with its function that it’s usability is quite good. The device is very easy to understand and easy to use as it does not require any input from the user aside from placing it on whatever part of body the user intends for. From here on out it’s fully automated as it uses light sensors to change the lighting of the device. Meaning It’s very easy for even the simplest of users to understand how to use this device. 

Aesthetics:

I feel that with a device such as this one, aesthetics may vary depending on how the user would like to locate the device. However, I feel that in my own design and location, the aesthetics are moderate. The device is intended to be very functional and straight to the point with its usability, and any added aesthetic features may conflict with, or even get in the way of the overall function of the device. This is why I believe that although the device is not unpleasant to look at, the device has met a sufficient cap in terms of aesthetics as there really isn’t much more to do with it aesthetically to make it friendlier. Although organization of LEDs and ensuring all is symmetrical or lined up would definitely help.

Process:

My original idea or concept was to create an environmental observation device. This device would read the schematics and analytics of an environment and help the user understand more about their environment and be more mindful about how they interact with their environment. This sort of device could be useful for people who are prone to overstimulation, or general anxieties. As somebody who suffers with poor vision, I felt that a device that can detect environmental factors, especially through the light sensor, this could be a device that would help me out. I believe that I would not be the only person as this would help out many people as it’s very open concept. The problem with this idea was that the playground Express was not as capable as I originally thought. It was in terms of how many inputs the sensors can take at once. I began moving forward the idea of using all of the playground expresses key sensors. These include the light sensor, the temperature sensor, the microphone sensor, and the motion sensor. When I began coding this, I quickly realized that the playground express was glitching a lot and the outputs were very finicky. This was because the playground Express could not avoid taking one sensor or one input at a time as it would detect everything and since there are so many things in environment that maybe detected, this was contributing to the glitching of the playground express. I decided in order to move on with this project, I should focus on one sensor specifically, to ensure I don’t go into class empty-handed, and I still have some key takeaways from this project as well as a final deliverable that serves a function instead of a device that would not be functional. I decided to hone in on the light sensor, as I felt that it connected to me the best. I’m somebody who needs to wear tinted glasses as well as custom contact lenses because of my oversensitivity to light, as well as my astigmatism, which makes it difficult for me to see at night. Even in my own home, I need to be very careful with how I control ambient lighting to ensure that there’s not any glare. So I felt that if I created a device that well that well lit the environment around me, while not blinding me with its own LEDs, this would be helpful to me. From here I created my concept on a device that can be worn at night and uses light sensors to create an output of lighting that helps light the environment around it. I feel the playground express, although annoyed me with how finicky it got, is a great device for lighting as the LEDs get very bright. From here I created my concept on my Automated Darkroom Light.

Code & Diagram

Used Materials:

• Beanie/ Hat (can be replaced by any other wearable piece based on preference of user)
• Playground express
• 3rd party LEDs (5mm diffuse 2v 5mA)
• Alligator clips
• USB cable + Portable charger (for power source)

Reflection:

Looking back at the beginning of this project, I believe that I had a very ambitious idea to begin with and that may have been what led me to struggle with the process of seeing the original intent through. I struggled to carry out the original concept, which also cause problems for me to create a new concept or work with what I had before, as I was now very short on time and I had not got enough time to test out the maximum capabilities and potential of this concept. Overall, I’m very happy with what I’ve learned with this project because it’s allowed for me to understand how the playground express works and what it’s maximum capabilities are as I feel like I may have overestimated some of the playground expresses capabilities in terms of how many sensors it can receive input from at one point. However, I still had a lot of key takeaways from this project, which I believe have taught me a lot. If I had the time to go further with this project, I would explore how many LEDs that I can install on the wearable as well as potential locations and easier access to modularity of the device. I would have loved to create a Velcro system where the device can be attached and reattached to different parts of the body so it can serve functions in any part that the user intends for. Otherwise, I’m very happy with what I have learned from this project, and I’m excited to continue learning!

References:

Ada, Lady. “Adafruit Circuit Playground Express.” Adafruit Learning System, https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-circuit-playground-express/playground-light-sensor.

Recktenwald, Gerald. “Light Sensor.” Invention Bootcamp 2021, https://web.cecs.pdx.edu/~gerry/class/IB2021/programming/on-board/light/.

Hissan Majid

What is the memory watch? 

The memory watch is a childhood light up watch that reminds me of the nostalgic memories I had of wearing one of these watches everyday. I would remember showing these watches to my friends and think I was super cool. As I remember these watches, I wanted to recreate something similar to them. Thinking about all the moms with kids who would never stop crying, this wearable is used to calm younger kids down and make them happy over music and lights.

Ideation Sketches 

Inspiration 

I was inspired by these childhood watches that I would have as a kid. If a new design was produced I would always beg my parents for more. I had ones that would light up and you were able to change the design on the inside which was the look I was going for.

Materials List 

• 6″ Plastic Embroidery Hoop
• CPX
• White Cotton
• Embroidery Floss in various colours
• Buttons
• Mask Ear Loop
• Conductive Thread
• Old Round Clear Plastic Gatcha Capsule

Note: I ended up not using leds for the side band as well because mostly the interaction of these bands is in the middle! I found it took away from the concept.

Process

Final Design:

I included a video and photo documentation also in the peep holes of the capsule

Here is a link to the video!

https://vimeo.com/701872001

Reflection:

During my process, I had the measurements of the fabric messed up and I had a larger hoop and ran out of time to buy another one.

The makecode process was very simple for someone who knows music already. I often had to look at the clarinet fingerings to know what note was played.

Sometimes the code would fail and I did have a short circuit in my previous design.

I decided to stick with the metal look of the conductive thread using stem stitch and an embroidery hoop. Each time you flipped it, a  design pattern would be embedded into the band.

Wearability:

It is very comfortable since cotton is like shirt material. The placement is right on the wrist and you are able to move your arms around. More buttons can be placed around the band.

Next Steps:

I would like to create more top pieces that you can take out with multiple cpx’s that would change songs and lights adjusted to the children’s taste.

To have this more portable for outdoor use for calming kids to add a battery or a phone adapter.

To make the ends more finished and refined.

References

Prior, O. (2022). Capacitive Touch  [Online Lecture]. Retrieved from https://canvascloud.ocadu.ca/courses/2871/pages/makecode-introduction-45-minutes?module_item_id=241160

Clarinet clarity: Clarinet fingering chart. Sheet Music – Pender’s Music Co. (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2022, from https://www.penders.com/t-clarinet-fingering-chart.aspx (Links to an external site.)

Mary had a little lamb. Teachers Pay Teachers. (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2022, from https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Browse/Search:mary%20had%20a%20little%20lamb (Links to an external site.)

Musescore. (2021, August 17). Twinkle twinkle little star. Musescore.com. Retrieved March 26, 2022, from https://musescore.com/user/29610820/scores/5246280

Concept

For this final wearables project, I wanted to explore the creative aspects of e-textiles and focus on design and structure. Making something that was aesthetically pleasing that almost felt like an art piece while including a cool e-textiles feature, in this case LEDs. I decided to make an inspiration board in the early stages of my brainstorm and I was inspired by various headwear from derby hats to tradition East Asian crowns. I noticed that I was mostly leaning towards a fairy-core aesthetic and decided to follow that style with material and structure. During my brainstorm ,I was inspired by the shape of a pelican flower which seemed like a very interesting option for a headpiece while taking into consideration all of my other hat/headpiece inspirations to come up with FEE. A headpiece made for an alternate universe.

Objective

My goal for this project was to really push myself to create something unique and not use any preexisting garments. Understanding how fashion forward designers create their pieces and are able to push the creativity of wearables was something that I felt needed more exploration. Circuit wise, I wanted LEDs to blend into the piece not taking away from its aesthetic but still incorporating e-textiles.

Process

The process for this wearable was complex but was a good learning experience for future projects and truly pushed me to put in a large amount of hours into one project.

My initial brainstorm + inspo board was quite successful and led me to a similar shape to my final product. While brainstorming , the biggest issue was always figuring out how to fit the circuit discreetly onto the piece while keeping the aesthetic I wanted.  I decided to use the beads as a switch for the LED which meant they would fit into the piece and act as my e-textiles component. (see slides for circuit diagram)

I first started creating the metal wire structure and then testing my circuit with alligator clips and various bead combinations to make sure my switch worked. I then had to cover the structure with yarn to prevent short circuits and creating separate tubbing for the LED and resistor connections so that they would be isolated. Once all of that was done, I could finally attach it to my headpiece and start attaching the LEDs and the switch beads.

Even though I was testing my circuit LITERALLY EVERY STEP of the way, after attaching the beads a connection was being made which constantly kept the circuit closed (NOT GOOD) and I unfortunately didn’t have enough time to take it all apart and figure out where it was going wrong so I improvised another switch where the battery was connecting to the LEDs. This new switch was based on the same principal as my original idea but had fewer beads. 

After I got all of that working and ready, I could finally crochet the entire piece, add finish beads and VOILA! 

See google slides for detailed step by step of process: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/14IK8RrtWnqajgSNP8DfCWIaqQzW2Z3_vlitRrT_EUHQ/edit?usp=sharing 

Final Product

FEE turned out pretty much how I wanted minus the circuit troubles but overall I am very proud of the wearable that I created!  (See slides for LED interaction video)

Parts List

• Aluminum Metal Wire
• Hot glue
• Regular thread
• Conductive thread
• Felt
• Yarn 
• Beads
• 220 Ohm resistor
• 2 LEDs
• 3V battery

Reflection + Next step

Overall I think my open project turned out pretty well (even if the circuit wasn’t working as expected) and I would definitely evolve this project into a series if I had opportunity. Planning a better execution for the circuit and really making sure every bead strand is working in its intended way when attaching them to the piece would definitely be the takeaway from this project. Positioning the circuit differently or even creating the base structure in coated wire might make a difference in trouble shooting and having a better circuit workflow. I would also maybe consider using metal beads instead of conductive thread looped around regular beads as that would be much easier to manage and might attach better to a wire structure.   Making a series of headpieces integrating bead switches w/ LEDs might be an interesting future project or even creating an entire outfit based of the aesthetic of this headpiece could also be another interesting future endeavour.

Resources

Prior, O. (2022, Feb 10) Digital Switch Workshop. Canvas OCAD U. https://canvascloud.ocadu.ca/courses/2871/pages/workshop-making-our-own-digital-switches-45-min?module_item_id=241164

Plusea. (2019, Jan 26) Beaded Sway Sensor. Kobakant. https://www.kobakant.at/DIY/?p=7370

Wilson, H. (2010, Mar 8) Knitted Stretchy Cable. Kobakant. https://www.kobakant.at/DIY/?p=2245

Concept

The idea for this project was to create a wearable instrument that can be easily manipulated by the wearer to play music. I wanted to combine the aesthetics of a historical fashion piece with modern technology and performance art. Wearable technology is used infrequently if at all in modern fashion, so combining it with an antiquated article of clothing really amplifies this.

Objective

This wearable was largely intended as a piece that could be used for performance rather than solving everyday issues. However the wearable design makes it much easier to transport than a regular instrument, and it only requires a limited range of motion to play which could make it very accessible.

Wearability

Corsets are very interesting as wearable projects because by their nature they’re a bit difficult to wear. This piece wasn’t super restrictive or uncomfortable, but it feels a bit like a tight hug to wear it. For this assignment I stuck to soft circuits and flexible components, but in theory a corset with rigid electronics in it wouldn’t feel much different from any other boned corsets. Anouk Wipprecht is one wearables artist that creates very beautiful and complex corsets, but this piece is much simpler. Because I measured the piece to my size, it would be difficult for someone else to wear it. However the back could be modified to allow more sizing freedom.

Process

The first step in the process was cutting out the fabric pieces. I traced the Cutsew #28 pattern for a boned bodysuit and shortened the pieces to a corset length.

After that I sewed the pieces of the lining together and used the twill tape to install the boning.

Once I had a base I prepared the pressure sensors by tracing a bunch of circles on to felt, conductive fabric and velostat and cutting them out. I glued the circle sandwiches together and tested each one with the demo code we used in class and alligator clips before gluing them in place on the inside of the corset lining.

Then I began hand-sewing the circuit using conductive thread. I mapped it out beforehand but it was still difficult to make each pressure sensor reach three connections without the wires overlapping. In the end I used a bit of fusible fabric interfacing to create little insulated “bridges” so the wires could overlap without touching.

Once the circuit was in place, I wrote the proper code to control the sensors. It basically just runs through a series of if else statements. When I couldn’t get it working properly, I used the two buttons on the Circuit Playground to fine tune the threshold until I found the correct value (just for testing though!!! They aren’t an intended part of the design.)

Last I sewed the outer fabric and lining together along the top with a piece of cord for decoration. I also closed up the sides and added hooks to the back so it can be put on, but left the bottom open to make adjustments to the circuit. I also added felt circles to the top which correspond to the pressure sensors underneath for visibility.

Final Project Images (With the wearable being worn!) 

This is a short video of a scale being played on the wearable.

Worn pictures

Laid flat

Parts List

-white cotton fabric
-white jacquard fabric
-red, orange, yellow, green, light blue, dark blue, and purple felt
-conductive fabric
-velostat
-7 10k resistors
-white cord trim
-white hooks
-9 5.5″ metal corset bones
-white twill tape
-fabric interfacing
-hot glue
-conductive thread
-polyester thread
-Adafruit Circuit Playground Express

Circuit Diagram

This is a diagram I drew while figuring out where to sew the connections, as well as the the diagram for the pressure sensor we looked at in class. My circuit is the same as this but repeated for 7 pressure sensors, one attached to each pin (A1-A7) of the Circuit Playground.

Reflections & Next Steps 

I feel like something like this has a lot of potential if executed differently. I would like for the final product to have a more elegant and decorative look to it, maybe with embroidery and capacitive touch elements. The limitations of pins on the Circuit Playground Express means that it can only play 7 notes, just short of a full scale, so it’s not ideal as a functional instrument. I’m satisfied with the white colour which diffuses the light well, and the combination of light and sound outputs make it very satisfying to play. I spent awhile trying to decide on what type of input to use with this before making the pressure sensors. Pressing the sensors is a similar motion to playing a piano, but other options I was considering could have made it very unique and different from existing instruments. One of the big things that affected the piece was the resistors I sewed in moving around and messing with the connection, but I haven’t been able to think of a more effective way to attach them or find resistors intended for wearable use.  The finished piece has a very colourful element I like looking at, and reminds me lot of the taps from Magical Doremi which are also rainbow coloured and play notes. Which is weird because I hadn’t seen the show when I designed the wearable. Overall I’m glad that the project worked well enough that I could play (most) of a scale on it before handing it in.

Resources & Related Works

Concept: Leds shoe trigged by light sensor

Objective

I was inspired by futuristic avant guarde designs that we see on the fashion runways ,so I wanted to design something fashionable and fun .So I designed a shoe with leds and can be trigged by a light sensor in the back of the shoe .When the light sensor detect certain ray of light , the leds will start switch from Blue to Red .

Process

First , I made some sketchs and layedout the circuit and the sensor

Then, I made the light sensor and I created couple of connection inside the tube

After, I attached the wires to the ardunio the light sensor attached to A0 and the Leds to pin number 7.

And then, I attached the toile and yarn to diffuse the light 

Final Project Images 

Wearability

This prototype can be easliy placed , since it’s shoe .It would be triggered with by motion and light .

Making the code

For the code,I used an ardunio code instead of make code , because the ardunio uno can’t be programmed using the language of make code.

Reflection 

One of the challanges through making this prototype was the leds . I had to resolder the leds couple of times , because it keeps getting loose .In addition, I had to tape the circuit so the wires won’t get loose .

Using CPX for the leds was much harder compared to the Ardunio. I had a probelm with the CPX not able to power the leds .That’s why I used the arudnio uno instead circuit ground express .

If I had to change something , I would’ve change the the placement of the light sensor and used fabric covering the circuit and the leds

Used materials :

1. Yarn
2. Toile
3. Ardunio uno
4. Light sensor
5. tape
6. Shoe

References

Blaine, E. S. (n.d.). Make it glow – your first neopixel project. Adafruit Learning System. Retrieved April 21, 2022, from https://learn.adafruit.com/make-it-glow-your-first-neopixel-project/connect-the-lights

Transform Light Belt

       

Reference:
Prior, O.  (2022). WORKSHOP: Variable Resistors DIY(45~min)[Online Lecture]. Retrieved from https://canvascloud.ocadu.ca/courses/2871/pages/workshop-variable-resistors-diy-45~-min?module_item_id=246717

Prior, O.  (2022). Wearability(1).pdf[Online Lecture]. Retrieved from https://canvascloud.ocadu.ca/courses/2871/files/1451417?module_item_id=250253

LASER TAG GAUNTLET

Concept:

My wearable is 1 of 2 pieces involved in my advanced wearables final. Originally I had planned to use a simple fabric band that wraps around the hand and then have the inputs only utilize the accelerometer but I was unable to make the interaction work effectively. Instead what I came up with is a glove that incorporates the band.  Below you can see my initial idea then the version I ended up creating for this class.

The old version represents my initial prototype for my advanced wearables device.

This wearable is the laser gun component in my laser tag wearable set!

Objective:

With this concept I am attempting to create a simple but effective glove alternative to a laser gun. Similar to one of my early wearables this year, I loved the ironman-like feeling that comes from using your hand as a laser tag gun. I wanted to create a wearable which had no entirely visible components (a small hole was made for the IR component on the CPX). Though I think I achieved a pretty clean look (especially when compared to past wearables) this is still very much a prototype piece.

4 Points of Wearability:

Comfort:

I would not say I excelled in making a comfortable wearable. My final product is more than comfortable enough especially because it is not intended to be worn over extended periods of times (or outside of game time). To make this wearable more comfortable I think a more form fitting glove as well as more advanced sewn circuitry would help greatly. The current prototype does not cause any discomfort to the user which is an A+ in comfortability in my books.

Durability:

I am unsure of the durability of this wearable since I’ve only had it done for a few days but taking into consideration the components used and the structure of the circuit I believe this wearable to be decently durable! The components (other than the CPX) consist of 4 capacitive touch buttons that are all connected to the cpx using a one thread per button! The circuit is very simple and compact which leads me to believe this wearable has good durability and can withstand many uses.

Usability:

This wearable uses capacitive buttons, lights, and sound in its inputs and outputs, this means that the interaction between the user and the device is both simple/organic as well as effective. Each capacitive button is in an easy to reach area and each input/action of the device has sounds that correspond with them ie. laser gun shooting = pew pew pew, reloading = powering up sound, along with the sound the light ring built into the CPX reacts to each action as well. One thing that falls short in the usability category is the fact that the current prototype needs to be plugged in to be used, obviously this completely restricts its purpose of being used for laser tag but this is a proof of concept. The reason it needs to be connected at all times is due to not being able to buy lipo batteries on their own.

Aesthetics:

I think this wearable falls short when it comes to the aesthetics. Unfortunately I did not have a lot of money to work with so I had to use anything immediately accessible to me, this included a winter glove (because i lack any other kind of glove) and some fabric from an old crewneck. Though it definitely isn’t my worst looking wearable it is not necessarily pleasing to look at and looks very much so like a prototype. As I mentioned before, if this product continued its development I think using a form fitting glove as well as sewing a more advanced circuit into it would create a more pleasing device aesthetically.

Process:

Before changing my wearable to the laser gauntlet I had initially wanted to create LED jeans. Unfortunately I had struggled with the sewing of the circuit and realized it would be too difficult to create something that looks good and works well using the concept of LED jeans. Here are some of the images of that circuit.

The top two images show the CPX sewed into a pocket (this was to hide the components). Sewing the CPX into a pocket seemed like a good idea initially but was extremely difficult to work with for obvious reasons. The image on the left shows the inside of the pocket and the image on the right shows the outside.

The bottom two images show both the full circuit as well as the LEDs themselves. As you can see I did not get very far before realizing it was a horrible idea. I wanted to have capacitive buttons along the jean pockets so that the user was able to change the lighting to what they wanted in the moment.

Unfortunately I don’t have any process photos of me creating the laser tag gauntlet, I always forget to take process pictures when im in the zone creating  a wearable.

Parts List:

Conductive Thread 3-ply

Conductive Fabric 

Circuit Playground Express

Fabric

Circuit Diagram:

Reflections and Next Steps:

Taking both intro to wearables and advanced wearables was very difficult, having to come up with a new wearable pretty much every week was tasking but I pulled through and got to the end! Having made a wide range of devices I am proud to say that I have greatly improved since my first wearable. My concepting, circuit construction, code creation, and most importantly sewing has improved beyond what I thought I could achieve. Though this wearable is not very complex I am very happy with the overall construction purpose of this device!

Resources:

Not many resources or related works were used in the process of creating this wearable.

One resource I used though was adafruits “Infrared Receive and Transmit with Circuit Playground Express” article. This resource was used as a general starting point for exploring the CPXs IR capabilities.

Rembor, K. (2018, July 24). Infrared receive and transmit with Circuit Playground Express. Adafruit Learning System. Retrieved April 21, 2022, from https://learn.adafruit.com/infrared-ir-receive-transmit-circuit-playground-express-circuit-python