• Description and Discussion

The emotional apron is a wearable led matrix and its color will change according to the environment. There is a sound sensor attached to the apron and connected to the Arduino board. Technically, the sound sensor is an input port and triggering the led matrix to make changes. There are totally three states of this led matrix(see image 1.1-1.3), specifically, the led matrix will show a blue state to indicate the out space is sort of quiet, and change to red-state when in a pretty noisy environment like a crowded street, or a busy public space. As we are rarely in an environment without any sound, so when there is some external sound that is not enough to reach a level of annoyance, the led matrix will show the green state.

Wearables are sort of electronic devices that can be worn as accessories. They could be embedded in clothing, implanted in the user’s body, and tightly attached to the physical body like the sports watch that be worn on the wrist and will not affect the movement of the human body. Wearable technology should be basically placed in the area that will not disturb people’s movement, so in this project, I chose the apron as a basic wearable framework and embedded the sensor and device inside. In the process of testing, I firstly chose a hoody as a frame, but it turned out that the apron was more wearable which can be taken off or put on rapidly. Although the current apron needs to support by a laptop( the battery container is still being shipped)and the wire connections also need to totally replaced by the conductive sewing thread, but from the perspective of the overall operation, it is highly wearable. Additionally, according to the Body Map- Body Locations for Wearable Technology, it shows the upper whole body(the dark green area in the body map) is a better area to place the device, so I placed the LED Matrix around this area.

For most wearable devices, like smartwatches or fitness trackers, their goal is to use sensors to get users’ information, in other words, our internal information. My thinking is, the external or environmental information could also be considered to be integrated into the wearable devices, in other words, the wearable is not only to track our bodies but also from the external space. So the emotional apron is firstly sensing the external situation and delivering this information to people. The LED matrix is sort of a signal output that can reflect the external sound condition.

• Code Link

https://github.com/xinzhang-jessy/emtionalapron.git

• Sensor List

4*5 RGB LEDs

Arduino Nano IoT

Jump line

Sound Sensor

Apron

Ordinary sewing thread & conductive sewing thread

• Context

When doing the research, I found three wearable light projects that I want to share. The first one is called Turn Signal Biking Jacket, which is a useful wearable light application. The device is attached to the back of a jacket. People can wear it when doing some sports, especially when riding a bicycle. The controllers are embedded on the cuff, which is easy to click and other people will see the signal directly. Besides, this project is realized by Lily Pad with its related components, so technically the jacket could be washable without the battery. So I think this project is really practical and useful for many activities.  More making details could be found from  https://www.instructables.com/turn-signal-biking-jacket/

Image is from ‘https://www.theverge.com/2018/4/14/17233430/wearable-media-fashion-tech-nyc-ceres-jumpsuit-interactive’

The second project is a wearable prototype called Ceres(image above), it is designed by the studio called wearable media, a fashion tech studio based in New York City. There is an embedded microcontroller in Ceres programmed to work with NASA’s Asteroid Neo-Ws RESTful API, which collects and catalogs real-time data sets of near-Earth asteroids surrounding our orbit. So the suits will vibrate timely. This project is really beautiful, as it is not just a fashion design, but also a wearable design. The material of the suit is also soft and light, but at the same time, it will also help the user to be aware of the vibration. This project is also a combination of technology and aesthetics.

The last one is a little bit terrible called Bling Bra, even this project is mainly to make fun, but it is indeed a negative example of a wearable light project. Firstly, the way of attachment is too simple, which is only to install on the surface of the bra. The bra is a sort of private suit, which requires some biometric consideration when embedding the devices. So this project is incomplete as I could not find any meaning from the aesthetically and practically.

Citation

1.’Where to Wear it: Functional, Technical, and Social Considerations in On-Body Location for Wearable Technology 20 Years of Designing for Wearability,’ Clint Zeagler

2. ‘What is Wearable Technology, How it Works?’ Kela Casery, ’https://codersera.com/blog/what-is-wearable-technology-how-it-works/’

3.’What is wearable tech? Everything you need to know’,’ ChrisSmith’, August 17, 2019

Description and Discussion

Smart wristbands are popular in smart device market. They can provide testing and statistics of step counting, sleep, heart rate, and exercise data to users. In this assignment, I would like to build up a lo-fi prototype of a smart band, using the functions of circuit playground express.

The prototype is consisting of a band and a circuit playground express. The band is made by straps and cotton cloth. And the circuit playground express can be placed into the little cloth pocket, as well as remove from it. Methods used is sewing and coding.

This wristband is designed to monitor temperature and wake up user in the morning.

(1)By pressing the button A, user can switch on its colorful lights whose amount shows how high the temperature is (More lights represents higher temperature). If the temperature becomes higher than 36℃, all the lights will turn red, to remind user of paying attention to take measure from getting sunstroke.

(2)When the wristband prototype detect sunlight, it will play music to wake up user.

Why is twist? According to Clint Zeagler, wearable devices should avoid obstructing body movement. Twist, as is usually a place for watch, is ideal for light-weighted wearable devices and not stop people from moving.

I am new to coding, so I used MakeCode to make things easier. Codes were written by selecting and moving different modules. I have experienced some confused moment but finally I made it. What I learned from this assignment is basic knowledge of how to control my circuit playground express by code, and code logic.

Demo Video

https://youtu.be/g9Ky3hKibDI

Detail Image

I used a power bank to work as battery for powering the circuit.

Parts and materials

(2) Straps

(1) Cotton cloth

(1) Buckle

(1) Circuit playground express

(1) Power bank

code

https://github.com/ajiujiu1003/Body-centric-technology/blob/master/circuitplayground-Untitled%20(14).uf2

COntext

The first one is the beautiful one. Second skin watch, designed by Svetlana Blum, is made in PU, LED and metal. There are two rows of LED lights in the watch, one displaying hours and the other minutes, to shows the exact time every five minutes. All the user need to do is touch the display to awaken the lights. Its shape has a sense of line, is full of classy vibe. The combination of the position of LEDs and the overall shape is just right, thus brings out the best for each other. My prototype is inspired by its use of LEDs.

The second one is not a light device but I like its inclusive function. People who visually impaired may have difficulty using common watch to look at the time. And Dot watch is a solution for this situation. It is a braille smartwatch and its users can read the time by touching its surface. It can also be connected to smartphone via an app. When someone call in, the Dot watch will display the name of the caller, then users can receive messages with ease by touching it. In my opinion, this is a useful and inclusive design, because it has well addressed the problem and is concise in appearance and simple to use.

The last one is a fitness tracker, the Atlas Wristband. The Atlas Wristband is made to monitor exercises, reps, calculates calories burned and evaluates form. What makes it different is users can see how each movement affects their body, and this wristband can track body on the x-, y- and z-axes. I also like the way that it align one edge of the rectangle to the strap’s, but I think its display interface is lack of aesthetic and a bit too large for a person who is doing exercise to carry.

References

Design Buzz. LED Display Turns the ‘Second Skin’ Wristwatch Into a Fashion Accessory[Blog post]. Retrived fom https://www.aminimalstudio.com/second-skin-watch

Dot Incorporation(2018). Dot Watch. Retrived from https://buy.dotincorp.com/product/dot-watch/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIiqTs9JG77gIVVTizAB2Vyw-5EAYYASABEgIWNPD_BwE

Peter Li(2014). The Atlas Wristband. Retrived from https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-atlas-wristband#/

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another work

Just make for fun! I sewed a seven-color led to a glove, and it can be powered by a button battery.

Video link: https://youtu.be/2ZYz3WpLMAQ

Squat Mate

Project Description

As we spend most of the time at home during the Coivd-19 pandemic, the idea of home fitness and indoor workout tends to become more popular. Squatting is one of the exercises that I found extremely beneficial and can easily be done anywhere. Personally, I do squat every day for exercising and keeping myself motivated. Doing squats helps to strengthen the core and the muscles of the lower body.

Squat Mate is a wearable device that monitors the user’s posture when squat to exercise. It is designed to be worn on the top of the user’s thigh, to detect leg movement. There are three LED lights on the device to represent three modes of the signals. (1)When standing still, the yellow LED lights up to indicate that the device is turned on and the user is not moving. (2)As the user squat, the orange LED lights up, indicating the user is squatting at a proper depth. (3)If the user squats and bends their knees beyond 90 degrees, the red LED lights up and warns the user. Going below a 90-degree bend puts lots of weight on the knees and can cause injury. The goal of the device is to help the user maximize the squatting exercises safely and correctly.

The device mainly consists of a circuit and a pouch with adjustable straps. The pouch is made of acrylic felt to hold the circuit board and wires. Three LED lights are sewed on the pouch with conductive threads for connecting to the circuit with alligator clips. The adjustable straps are made of sturdy ribbons with velcro tapes sewing at both ends, allowing the user to put on the device according to their thigh circumference. The detection of the leg movements is based on the accelerometer data of the Arduino IMU sensor. It reads the bending angle of the leg and triggers the corresponding LEDs to light up. Squat Mate is a wearable device that belongs to the movement sensing category. According to Clint Zeagler, “placing the sensor on the thigh or just above ankle would be appropriate.” The visible feedback of LEDs is also easy to read because of the placement of the device.

Parts & Materials

(1) Arduino Nano 33 IOT
(1)Yellow LED
(1)Red LED
(1)USB charger
(1)Orange LED
(6)Aligator clips
(1)Half breadboard
Jumper wires
Velcro tapes
Black ribbon
Conductive thread
Black acrylic felt

Prototype Images

Demo Video

https://youtu.be/LEhxEk4P7Z0

Detail Images

Circuit Diagram

Arduino Code

https://github.com/graceyuanjq/Squat-Mate/blob/main/Arduino%20Code

Project Context

Using the wearable device for tracking body movement or fitness has been quite popular. Notch Wearable Sensors can serve as a practical example. The notch is a motion capture system with up to 18 IMU sensors for detecting an athlete’s movement. You can purchase it as a kit and each kit comes with 6 sensors. Its LED lights system is designed to identify different sensors and where they are supposed to be worn. Each sensor unit contains 6 different colored lights. As the user selects a configuration for Notch on the phone app, it automatically assigns one color for each sensor. Similar to the Notch, Squat Mate also detects body movement and uses a velcro hook for fixing the device on the user’s body part.

Another related example would be the Heart Rate Monitor by Dmitry Dziuba from the MIT lab. This device is designed in the form of a watch, for the user to wear on their wrist. I found the design beautiful and well-integrated. The most eye-catching feature of its the bright and colorful Adafruit NeoPixel Ring that lights up or changes color as the user’s heartbeat changes. The concept of the Heart Rate Monitor and Squat Mate aligns – track body movement with IMU sensor and display them as visual feedbacks using LED lights.

There is another example with a really interesting concept and mechanism but very poorly constructed. This is a prototype from a youtube channel called Ultimate Robotics. The prototype integrates muscle controlled Electromyography (EMG) to control LED lights with the movement of fingers. Although the use of EMG is super creative and interesting, the prototype itself provides discomfort to the arm and the LEDs are not integrated into the design.

References

Chua, Julian. “Notch Wearable Sensor Review.” Sports Technology Blog, 29 Apr. 2019, sportstechnologyblog.com/2019/04/28/notch-wearable-sensor-review/.

Dziuba, Dmitry. “Heart Rate Monitor (Wearable and Wireless Using ECG).” Hackster.io, 6 Dec. 2020, www.hackster.io/aka3d6/heart-rate-monitor-wearable-and-wireless-using-ecg-e96dce.

Zeagler, Clint. “Where to Wear It.” Proceedings of the 2017 ACM International Symposium on Wearable Computers, 2017, doi:10.1145/3123021.3123042.