Gellas Final
From BenningtonWiki
Ideas etc for Angela Sheehan's final in Experiments in Mixed Reality.
And go...!
Contents |
Initial idea
I want to make a pair of networked or interactive garments. Right now the type (shirt,pants,etc) is undecided but the main concept I have is to use the body as a conductor tech that we used for Team Hive Mind's folly. Creating clothing (or possibly accessories) that encourage physical interaction (touch) between two people in order to create a visual experience...
The ideas and technologies I have been kicking around in my head so far are ---
- Glowire displays - perhaps intiating contact lights up portions of the garment and different light effects happen depending on how long the contact lasted for...
- Networked garments - contact sends something over a Wiport(?) to a third object/garment/screen that takes the 'contact data' (time, contact point, proximity?) and either displays it or has it effect something
- Interchangable patches - could be combined with either of the above...having snap on circuit patches (like quilt patches) that have different physical effects etc
---at this point this looks more like a list of things I want to experiment/play with than a cohesive conceptual project. I want to sit down and brainstorm what kind of interactions I want to guide/create and how they are meaningful...getting beyond just 'ooh when I touch you it lights up'.
Questions I am asking myself---
- Campus-specific? Can I address something about the ways we interact with eachother at Bennington?
- Direct or passive interaction?
- Is it just physical/hardware or is there a software/screen component?
Angela, This is a terrific beginning! I very much look forward to seeing your experiments unfold and become real (love the conductive thread tests below.) I am particularly drawn to the notion of hybridization and a combo of garment specific elements/actions/reactions + multi-garment networked elements/actions/reactions (passive and direct.) The individuals that wear these creations should be at the center of your questions and then dig in from there--campus specific --> student to student, student to faculty, student to admin, staff to staff, staff to student and so on. Also, gender issues seem of particular importance here. Who are the folks who might wear the garments, what kind of interaction normally takes place and how are you shifting/changing/enhancing that paradigm? Of course, the actual space someone is in could impact the garment too. In terms of screen, i think that must be answered in relation to the user and what you hope to create as an experience--does a screen make sense in the context you are working within and the experience you hope to create?
For your shoe interests check out Aphrodite Platforms
and for more fashion take a look at the interview with Sarah Scaturro with Giana Gonzalez of Hacking Couture
And another blog: fashion projects
Robert_Ransick 12:12, 13 November 2006 (EST)
Sketches and Brainstorming
Click to view full sketchbook page and description
Here are some rough ideas for different garments/concepts I've thought up in the last few days.
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
Refining Concepts
Middle School Dance::
>Taking some of the suggestions from class last night I am looking into discoballs and mp3 players as a way to create a 'slow dance' mood when the two connect. These items will be a part of the garment and create a private dance space for the two dancers.
Hey. I found this little strobe light someone made.. I know you were talking about putting one a bow tie.. this might be small enough and seems easy to make. mary cass 23:10, 16 November 2006 (EST)
>In the next few days I will be testing out / setting up the conductive fabric patches hooked up to a Basic Stamp (Arduinos are all checked out!), ideally I would like to use an Arduino to prototype then replace it with an Arduino Mini for final construction - also because it has a built in voltage regulator whereas the Stamp does not.
>Over Thanksgiving I'm going to gather the garments for the circuitry to be built into (for some reason I picture 80's prom wear...). For the girl's outfit it will be a dress, and guy's possibly a coat or button down shirt, depending on what works best for attaching the equipment. I was also thinking perhaps something on a bowtie (disco ball? leds?) that could just snap into the circuit as well with metal snaps.
Interactions Typical of the Middle School Dance::
- Rigid arm dance techniques (see picture above)
- Stepping on toes
- Moving in close (too close for chaperones' comfort!)
- Standing alone along the wall (waiting to be asked to dance)
>Idea!
I really wanted to have some way of showing elapsed time in a display as part of this piece - to show how long the contact has lasted and I just thought of something -- having simple LED hearts on the backs of the garments that light up over time....the longer they are dancing, the more in love etc etc. Also, for those watching who may want to 'cut in', they can do so before it's 'too late!' *gasp*. I think this would go well with the idea of middle school crushes etc etc. As for when they are parted, the lights gradually fade back down and they would have to start again. Also: having the signal on the back keeps the guessing part of 'does he/she like me' in play as your partner cannot see the lights nor make any observation of them while you are triggering them.
As far as tech goes, this should be relatively easy to sew the LEDs in. As far as pins the Arduino has 12 digital pins available, the layout I chose would need 8 pins to control the pairs of LEDs, leaving 4 (3 for the switches and one pin for the additional effect created through connecting).
Tech
What I've ordered/collected so far:
- Coin Cell Battery Holders - suggested on Craft Technology Group's Leah Buechley's sewing circuits site.
- Glowire - 5' plug and play kit with 9v driver (white wire)
- additional 5' white glowire
- 3v driver
- Conductive Thread - 200 yd spool
- Conductive Fabric - 'Zelt' style
I'm looking into a microcontroller to use to control the lights/actions/etc. I was thinking about the Basic Stamp because it is the smallest of what we have available. JRBuG suggested looking into the Arduino Mini as well.
Leah Buechley's diy LED tank top has some tips on construction/using microcontrollers/sewing circuits that I would like to base some of my construction on.
Here's a rough test of my conductive thread and parts from an LED throwie that I whipped up after class.
I then made a simple fabric switch using felt and conductive fabric.
The switch in action.
Progress
Saturday, November 18:
- Ordered an mp3 player which may be hackable? If not, got a christmas present for my little sister.
- Got an Arduino from Joe. Will use to prototype/code and hopefully will be getting Arduino Minis when they are restocked.
- Tested my conductive fabric with the same set up as our contact plates (replacing the plates with patches of the fabric sewn to wires that then plugged into the board) and it worked. I have a simple piece of code that reads an input pin and lights an led when the circuit is completed through the fabric patches. So far so good...
- On figuring out how to tell if both garments are triggered....I put a third conductive patch into my circuit, connected to an additional pin (and led)...my thinking is this will always be connected to the wearer (I tied a piece of conductive thread around my finger as a stand in) and then when the circuit is completed to the other wearer through you it tells the Arduino to light the second led (eventually the second action). I'm thinking that in the code both the patches on your garment and this third patch (triggered by you completing the other circuit on the other garment) will need to be 'on' in order for the super special action to occur. Don't know what that will be for now. Only problem is this doesn't keep you from triggering your own garment....is that a conceptual problem or is it ok becuase you won't get the full effect unless you 'partner up'?
Here is the set up of the conductive patches A,B,C and their LEDs
A+B lights LED 1
A+B+C lights LED 1 and LED 2
- Tested out my conductive thread in bobbin and top thread of my sewing machine, using different stitch lengths and styles. Sewed onto a patch of black (nonconductive fabric) and tested as one of my switches. Works nicely and looks good too.
Saturday, November 25:
- Went shopping yesterday for all the bits and pieces for my project (LEDs, fabrics, etc)
- After dissapointment at Goodwill (no prom dresses!), I dug up a dress from my attic that belonged to my aunt...I love it because it has those huge sleeves that are perfect for hiding components in. Am waiting on the guy's clothes until I know what size I need. (My project is moving more toward prom than middle school dance due to the costuming choices I am making, but I think it still keeps the concept of the 'awkward dance')
- Talked to Genevieve and she's on board to be one of my performers. Early in the week she will be trying it on, before I sew the conductive panels on in case it needs altering. Still looking for a guy performer and will have that resolved hopefully by midweek so I can shop for his attire.
The awesome 80's prom dress.
- Got my mp3 player and downloaded a bunch of very prom-y songs. Will post a list soon. Today am going to try and pull the casing open and see if I can hack the buttons.
Also got some fake flowers (the big one will serve as a hiding place for a small speaker).
- Started sewing the LED heart pattern into a panel which will snap into the back of the dress. Because of the zipper and the low neckline, this is a good solution to making sure its in the right placement and able to have the circuits sewn correctly.
Here is the panel I sewed for the LEDS
and a picture of how I am sewing the circuits in the lining. So far so good.
Tuesday, November 28:
- Talked to Keith Eyrich about being my second performer. Going out tomorrow to get his outfit stuff.
- Wrote a simple program to test how I want my LED hearts to work:
//-----Simple Test----//
// When a switch is pressed, light up more LEDs for more time
#define LED0 2
int led = 2; // pin for the LEDs
int led1 = 3;
int led2 = 4;
int led3 = 5;
int inPin = 10; //input pin
//int inPin1 = 9;
int val = 0; // variable for reading the pin status
//int val1 = 0;
int checkTime = 2000; //milliseconds
long goTime; //the amount of time until next action is triggered
int touchCount; //how long switch has been held (or released) for
int row; //which row is effected
//---------------------SETUP--------------------//
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
Serial.println("setup");
pinMode(LED0, OUTPUT); // declare LEDs as output
pinMode(led1, OUTPUT);
pinMode(led2, OUTPUT);
pinMode(led3, OUTPUT);
pinMode(inPin, INPUT); // declare pin as input
//pinMode(inPin1, INPUT);
goTime = millis() + checkTime;
}
//---------------------MAIN LOOP--------------------//
void loop(){
unsigned long m = millis();
if (m >= buttonGoTime) {
}
if (m >= goTime) {
Serial.println("GO!");
goTime = m + checkTime; //reset goTime
//here is where the switch's state comes in
val = digitalRead(inPin); // read input value
if (val == LOW) { //when switch is pressed
if (touchCount < 40) {
touchCount++;
Serial.println(touchCount);
}
}
else if (val == HIGH) { ///When switch is not pressed
if (touchCount > 0) {
touchCount--;
Serial.println(touchCount);
}
}
if (touchCount > 7)
row = 8;
else
row = touchCount;
switch (row) {
case 0: {
digitalWrite(led, LOW);
digitalWrite(led1, LOW);
digitalWrite(led2, LOW);
digitalWrite(led3, LOW);
break;
}
case 1: {
digitalWrite(led, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led1, LOW);
digitalWrite(led2, LOW);
digitalWrite(led3, LOW);
break;
}
case 2: {
digitalWrite(led, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led1, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led2, LOW);
digitalWrite(led3, LOW);
break;
}
case 3: {
digitalWrite(led, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led1, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led2, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led3, LOW);
break;
}
case 4: {
digitalWrite(led, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led1, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led2, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led3, HIGH);
break;
}
}
}
}
- Here are all my crazy songs that I am narrowing down to one or two:
- Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin
- Unchained Melody - U2
- At Last - Etta James
- Stand By Me - Ben E. King
- Who's Gonna Drive You Home - The Cars
- All My Life - K-C and Jojo
- After the Love is Gone - Earth Wind and Fire
- Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me - Elton John
- Hold on My Heart - Genesis
- 2 Become One - Spice Girls
- Hold Me Now - Thompson Twins
- What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
- Against All Odds - Phil Collins
- Wild Horses - Rolling Stones
- Love My Way - The Psychedelic Furs
- Unforgettable - Nat King Cole
- Take My Breath Away - Berlin
- I'll Stand By You - the Pretenders
Monday, December 4:
- hooked up a speaker to mp3 player - though its a lot quieter than i'd like
- sewed the metal patches on both garments
- got my arduino minis in the mail
- led heart on girl is ready to install
Monday, December 11:
Haven't updated in awhile, but things are settling into place for the most part. I had to scale back a little bit in terms of having a separation between knowing whether you are dancing with someone or the other garment. The test that I used above with two switches (one being powered by the other) was only using one arduino. I realized that this would not work the same way with two, and thus had to adjust accordingly. Also during the performance, since it is so short, I don't think it will change the concept that much. Right now the hearts and the mp3 player/tie are controlled just by contact with the hand patches. I'm also adding a bit of dimming/brightening to the hearts to make them more intriguing...
- All major components (the LED hearts, metal patches, tie) are sewn in and ready to be hooked up to my boards
- Today I am working on soldering my boards together (rather than using a breadboard, to ensure wires don't get disconnected by mistake), with the help of Joe
- Programming is close to being done
- I still need to find a better speaker, but all the wiring is figured out and ready to sew in when I get one
- Going tomorrow or Wednesday to get Keith some non electronic oriented clothing to round out his attire
- Should be testing and trouble shooting by tomorrow, to allow time for last minute adjustments on Wednesday
Projects that inspire/interest me
There is sooo much out there, and I didn't even list shoe projects on here! (ps I am crazy over projects involving footwear)
Sharing Experiences --
- Spotty Dresses, Feathery Dresses, and Constellation Dresses from Extra-Soft Labs
- Closer
- Tap Tap
- Fuse
- Out of the Closet
- Accessory Nerve
- The Hug Shirt
- The Empathy Vest
- Love Jackets and Hug Jackets
Individuals --
Timeline
11.8 - Initial ideas, refining concepts
11.15 - Prototyping conductive thread circuits, sketches/designs for garment and interaction, research/gather any materials to be used
(11.22 - Thanksgiving. Production on MiddleSchoolDance project (figuring out conductive fabric patches, connecting them with an Arduino and gathering materials for effected actions [music playing/disco ball headband/LEDs etc], get base garments [dress and coat/suit jacket].) Start thinking of performers to wear the pieces.
11.29 - Sew LED hearts into garments, program heart lights code, hook up mp3 player, start testing out effects on shoes...
12.6 - Fittings for performers I choose. All hardware (LEDs etc etc) sewn/attached to garments. Mostly work on troubleshooting/tweaking code.
12.13 - Project completed for class crit.
