Fingertips

2009-11-02T22:04:00.000-08:00

Quivering tumors oh so beautiful

2009-05-07T14:37:00.000-07:00

A post WAY OVERDUE, I apologise.
To explore the capabilities of the lilypad arduino, this is an experimentation to observe the polarity of the beautiful and the grotesque. Using unconventional materials (water balloons, stockings, pillow), I created a growth of tumor like infestation that quivers when it nears objects or people.

The original plan was to have the tumors visibly quiver and shake when someone comes near it, but my motor was too small, so only when someone touches it can they feel it shake.

I was really inspired by LucyandBart and their collection of whimsical experimentations with materials and the human body (refer to my earlier post on this topic).

Although nowhere near its finished state, I'm really happy with the effect it already has. I'm would like to continue with this project it hopes that it could turn into a larger installation of some sort, (I see carpets).

Christine Meindertsma

2009-03-26T15:25:00.000-07:00

Christine Meindertsma

I found Christine Meindertsma in the IDN magazine, she was featured in the "new materials" section crocheting together jumbo over-sized wool carpets with a kind of wool sourced from Idaho. Although I wasn't able to fully understand why that particular kind of wool was worth the search, I did like the idea of extracting inspiration from new material characteristics.

Kvadrat Couds

2009-03-26T15:12:00.000-07:00

Kvadrat Clouds

Just something that really makes me happy, and sometimes that's all that matters.

LucyandBart

2009-03-24T23:14:00.001-07:00

LucyandBart

The collaboration between Lucy McRea and Bart Hess is described as "an instinctual stalking of fashion, architecture, performance and the body." The LucyandBart project explores genetic manipulation of the organic body that redefines the preconceived requirements of beauty. The collection is ultimately an unrestrained exploration of the possibilities of body manipulation and what it means to the human appearance as we might possibly evolve to adapt changing circumstances. As described in their blog, "they work in a primitive and limitless way creating future human shapes, blindly discovering low-tech prosthetic ways for human enhancement."

The possibilities of human prosthetic in pursuit of the ever-changing notions of beauty are mind-boggling. To think that the human body is always clad in shape-shifting armors, it is this demand for the alteration of appearance that science and technology is driven for innovation. The body as an interactive surface thus brings new meaning to how we perceive ourselves as human beings and where we place ourselves in science, in technology, in the future of evolution.

Mountain Dew Voltage

2009-02-21T18:22:00.000-08:00

Its not a new commercial, but within the context of interactive wearables, I kinda appreciate the creativity and the humor.

Its even a little bit inspiring, the possibility.

textrual exploration

2009-02-10T12:38:00.000-08:00

At the moment I am still at lost as to what my final project should be. The above pictures are experimentations I am doing for my grad project. Although a different context all together, I am very much inspired by the same textural exploration for all my ideas.
So far I've been doing these experimentations without a definitive project in mind, that is to say, once I've built enough of a textural for myself, I can apply elements from my findings to different aspects of each of my projects.

It is however VERY exciting that I will have the opportunity to take these material explorations a step further, and possibility develop more of a interactive surface. Interactivity has been one of the main reasons for my explorations, so it will be a super bonus to incorporate technological capabilities to my library.

tree lamp in a bag

2009-02-10T11:40:00.000-08:00

My project with thermochromic ink: tree lamp in a bag. I figured with a halogen light bulb it was a sure way of generating enough heat to have some effect on the disappearing ink, and also I liked the idea of an interactive lamp shade. My concept was simply a depiction of deforestation due to human settlement. Electricity--lamps--are sure signs of urbanization, so I thought it would be an idea to communicate the concept every time someone turns on a lamp.

As for the process, although screen printing would have given me the best result, I chose to simply apply my vinyl template directly onto my fabric, and dabbed the paint on, just to save time, paint and energy. I only applied the thermochromic ink to some of the tree icons and the rest was with regular paint for effect, so perhaps dabbing the paint on was the better way to go.

I did make a frame for the shades at some point, but decided I didn't like the effect, so I stuck with the bag-on-a-pole idea. Some might think its tacky, but I kinda liked the effect, although I do agree it can be worked on a little more.

I didn't get a chance to take a picture of the final product, but it will be added asap.

Dune 4.0

2009-01-27T20:56:00.000-08:00

I love fusions of man-made materials with organic entities, especially in context of environmental and architectural settings. Almost always these combinations result in extraordinary sensory experiences.

Dune 4.0

Commissioned by Netherlands Media Art Institute Montevideo in Amsterdam & CBK Rotterdam, Daan Roosegaarde designed Dune 4.0, strands of artificial interactive rods that reacts to movement and human presence. These grass-like rods lights and dims when it senses any kind of movement or sound, creating a scenery that changes constantly. Project technology was developed in collaboration with Axis & Stuifmeel Techniek and Peter de Man.

It may seem a little creepy when we've reached a point where artificial landscape may be demanded, but with ethical reasoning aside, imagine the future of landscape and architectural design as not only an spacial existence but also a site for boundless experimentation. We can construct our environment to reflect fantastical imaginations that would have otherwise been non-existent in our natural world. In addition to innovations in entertainment, such advancements may also pave new roads in health care and education amongst many possibilities.

stretchy embedded circuits

2009-01-15T19:52:00.000-08:00

I was watching Daily Planet when I came across a segment showcasing a new "flexible embedded circuit". Unfortunately I couldn't find the one that was presented in the show, but I did find two other versions that also posses the same quality:

markpascua.com: stretchy, flexible circuits.

The first is a circuit developed at the University of Illinois. Embedded in silicon and plastic, this transparent circuit can be stretched up to 15%. Silicon wiring is bound to a stretched out thin sheet of rubbery plastic, when the components are assembled together, tension is released. In neutral state the silicon chip is wrinkled, this allows for expansion when the plastic membrane is stretched.

pinktentacle.com: Stretchable circuitry for soft machines.

The second is developed by researchers led by Takao Somea at the University of Tokyo. The university mixed carbon nanotubes with an ionic liquid containing charged particles that prevents the nanotubes from bunching and clumping, evenly distributing them on a rubbery backing. This allows for even more flexibility than what has been achieved before. Apparently this formula "conducts electricity more than 500 times better than other commercially available carbon nanotube-polymer blends." (pinktentacle.com)

Engineers can now stretch electrical circuits around awkward shapes or delicate areas. With this new material, researchers are envisioning applications ranging from biological (brain) implants, to "smart clothing" for athelets, to life like robotics and cyborgs.

Cool!

first post

2009-01-13T21:51:00.000-08:00

This blog will be a record of my research, insights and process for the works done in the first ever interactive wearables course here at Emily Carr University. I have named my term long exploration "Fingertips", a body part that has fueled many of my inspirations in the past.

Some past explorations: