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      Aerochromics: Pollution Monitoring Garments Aim to Become A Sixth Skin

      August 17, 2016

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      ‎BODYSONG‬./Glitchaus GLITCHJK Jacquard Bomber Jacket

      February 27, 2016

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      3D Print and the Jewellery Industry: An Overview

      December 11, 2015

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      Bring A Little Bling To Your Workout with Misfit’s Solar-Powered Activity Trackers Made From Swarovski Crystals

      January 6, 2015

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      Wearables in Contemporary Ballet

      November 18, 2014

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      Fibers Software Transforms Your Fuelband Data into Art

      August 19, 2014

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      Adidas Reissues Micropacer OG

      August 14, 2014

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      Fashionable therapy brightens winter SADness

      July 30, 2015

      Healthcare

      Lightwear: An Exploration in Wearable Light Therapy for Seasonal Affective Disorder

      February 4, 2015

      Healthcare

      Vigour — A Gorgeous Wearable For Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy

      December 18, 2014

      Healthcare

      Space: What to wear?

      June 7, 2014

      Healthcare

      E-textile Pillow for Communication Between Dementia Patients and Family

      November 5, 2013

  • Wearables UX
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      Moff: Wearable Smart Toy For Kids

      August 21, 2014

      Wearables UX

      Temporary NFC Tattoo

      July 29, 2014

      Wearables UX

      Wearable Tech Guide to SXSW

      March 7, 2014

      Wearables UX

      PixMob’s LED beanies light up the SuperBowl by turning the crowd into human pixels

      February 3, 2014

      Wearables UX

      Cadbury Joy Jackets

      January 16, 2014

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      Interview with Davide Vigano of Heapsylon

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      Interviews

      Make It Wearable Video Series by Creators Project

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      Interview with Sparkfun’s Dia Campbell

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      Interviews

      Interview with Julia Koerner

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      Interviews

      Interview with Akseli Reho from Clothing Plus

      March 17, 2014

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      Conductive Tattoos Turn Your Skin Into An Interface

      August 24, 2016

      Materials

      Biofabrication: The New Revolution in Material Design

      August 23, 2016

      Materials

      Aerochromics: Pollution Monitoring Garments Aim to Become A Sixth Skin

      August 17, 2016

      Materials

      Biomimicry and Sports Apparel

      August 15, 2016

      Materials

      Smart Fabrics Conference May 11 – 13

      April 27, 2015

  • DIY
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      Techno Textiles – Concordia University

      January 18, 2016

      DIY

      Smart Fabrics + Wearable Technology 2015 Review

      July 8, 2015

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      Explore and Learn from the Students of the Wearables Class at CCA

      April 19, 2015

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      Make It Wearable Winners

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      JPG Data Knit Blanket Series from Glitchaus

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Materials

Smart Fabrics Conference — Part One

written by Syuzi Pakhchyan April 11, 2011

The following insights are from Dr Raymond Oliver – Director, Arrow Science Consulting and a professor at Northumbria University and a senior Research fellow at the Royal College of Art. 

 

Dr Oliver’s current research interests span from electro photo bio active polymers, applications in Ambient Intelligence, portable power, printable light and rapid prototyping of conductive polymers.

 

According to Dr Oliver, wearable technologies is heading towards a “soft machines” future. 

 

He  stresses the importance of “TRUST” when working with new technologies from the material and product from everyone in the supply chain but ESPECIALLY the consumers, the people who will purchase and ultimately use these new ‘smarter’ products. 

 

Dr Oliver feels that this may be one and element missing from current Smart Fabrics and Wearable Technologies and hindering the progression of these new technologies.

 

The products and prototypes that are being produced today need to have real life applications and offer some improvements (that are clear) to a general audience, or they face the possibility that they will remain on the shelf and will not be developed further.

 

In designing wearable technologies and smart textiles, products and services must respond to human needs and not the other way round. Products and services have to become relevant and important to people for them to become an acceptable and essential part of our everyday life’s.

 

In conclusion Dr Oliver stresses the point that “trust” is key, if not smart fabrics will stay ‘in the slow lane.’

 

Looking to the future of smart fabrics, ones that will lead the way in pushing the development of this type of technology will be ones that are in the body, on the body and around the body.

 

If you’re curious about Dr. Oliver’s research, you can read his reaserach on Bi-textiles.pdf and oliver_toomey.pdf. 

 

My Thoughts

I personally find the discussion of “trust” quite interesting and relevant. Wearable technologies, by their nature, are intimate as they deal with the space around the body. Although I find it slightly confusing why embedding technology directly into a coat or a dress is any different than wearing a cellphone in your back pocket (as mine currently is). Perhaps it’s a perceived difference which insinuates a need for a cultural shift. 

 

When I observe children (and I mean kids from 3-5) playing around with electronic gadgets it appears to be a “natural” extension of their nervous system a la Marshall McLuhan. 

 

If anyone who went to conference could further expand on this topic, I’d appreciate it.

 

How important of a role do you see trust playing in the acceptance of wearable technology? 

 

Thanks to the lovely Joanne Hodge for her extensive notes and coverage. 

Smart Fabrics Conference — Part One was last modified: April 11th, 2011 by Syuzi Pakhchyan
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Syuzi Pakhchyan

Syuzi Pakhchyan is a user experience designer and author with a passion for crafting next generation wearable technologies. Syuzi is reimagining the design industry with her game-changing insights on the connection between technology and the human body

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Smart Fabrics Conference — Part Two

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