Similar in function to Vibe-ing, Tactile Dialogues is a beautifully designed e-textile pillow constructed with touch sensors and vibrating motors. The pillow is used to generate a positive interaction between a caregiver and an individual suffering from severe dementia.
Vibe-ing and Tactile Dialogues essentially use the very same technologies yet take on very different forms. Worn on the body, Vibe-ing is a personal and intimate tool used to promote self-healing. Tactile Dialogues instead is a medium to generate interaction and conversation.
Both of these wonderful projects point to the importance of how much form and context (not the technology specifically) shape the development of the user experience.
They also give us a glimpse into the future of wearables: tactile knits and wovens, with haptic feedback mechanisms that are a pleasure to touch and wear.
Tactile dialogues is a collaboration between Eindhoven University of Technology (Martijn ten Bhömer), De Wever Borre Akkersdijk, Optima Textiles BV and Metatronics.
