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
- ex: instead of it being a horizontal reveal? Make it vertical instead for a smooth motion
- how to take advantage of gravity when designing for automation?
- 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?
- What is this interaction trying to articulate?
- 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
- how to hide the mechanical parts to make it feel more incorporated & soft?
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
