Office Hrs w/ Danny

 

 

Today I scheduled a couple office hours, one with Danny & one with Jingwen later tonite for Intro to Wearables. I wanted to talk about the possibilities of using a servo motor on a garment to help reveal elements in an automated way. We talked about lots of possibilities from complex to more simplified, with the simplest option being a drawstring pull that would reveal an element on the back like a curtain pull.

 

Initially talked about / thought through a couple concepts / questions:

• Gravity is our friend: 
  • how to take advantage of gravity when designing for automation?
    • ex: instead of it being a horizontal reveal? Make it vertical instead for a smooth motion
      • this will also help with not creating a feeling of a new appendage due to the metal dowel sweeping out

 

• Storytelling:
  • What is this interaction trying to articulate?
    • Are there symbolisms or analogies its conveying?
    • What is it about eye mimicry that I’m hoping to incorporate?
      • thinking about its actual protective or attracting functionality in nature
  • Using Natural mechanical processes to guide the design decisions?
    • How aspects of our body already perform similar motor functions / how to mirror it like an eyelid shutting & opening?

 

• How to make it soft vs hard:
  • how to hide the mechanical parts to make it feel more incorporated & soft?
    • ex: hiding the servo in a michael jackson style shoulder pad, epaulettes or a puffy collar
    • Thinking about how to have a external layer that could protect the hardware / hide the servo + metal dowel? Maybe elevated shoulder pads that slightly project backward

A) Thinking about the history of epaulettes from military to decorative

B) The Storm Shield / Gun flap on coats?” Assumed by many to be padding for a rifle butt, the “gun” flap is actually a protective flap to ensure water does not slip into the jacket as it runs down the shoulders.”

C) Using seam lines to help disguise elements?

 

Servos + Pushrods

Connecting Servos & Shafts

DrawStrings