13. Skin Electronics¶
Overview¶
This week (our last week of classes!) we explored skin electronics, electronics that almost act as a second skin. I wasn't so excited for this week initially because I've been feeling so uninspired by electronics, but after our lecture with Katia Vega and seeing her work in cosmetic and beauty electronics I got a lot of ideas. Our assignment this week was to create a skin electronic using examples that Katia gave us or to create a new one of our own. I have been interested in experiementing with 3D nail art so I incorporated that idea into my project this week and I'm excited about how it turned out!
Research¶
Examples of Skin Electronics as compiled by Katia Vega from her lecture on Beauty Technology.
In her lecture this week, Katia Vega prompted us to look beyond wearables and showed us how cosmetics, beauty supplies, and special FX makeup can be combined with technology to create new ways to interact with electronics. I was really inspired by her projects Twinkle Nails, which uses RFiD sensors stuck to nails that allows users to open doors, or use the metro with just the tap of their nails alone. But she also has projects that include conductive makeup, and electronic hair accessories.
More examples of Skin Electronics from Katia Vega's lecture on Beauty Technology.
A diagram created by Katia Vega displaying differences between skin electronics and wearables.
References & Inspiration¶
I've been super inspired by nail art lately -- and my algorithim knows it. I love the textures, the volumes, the colors that can be achieved on such a small surface. Before coming to Fabricademy, I was getting my nails done monthly and collaborating with my nail artist on fun bold ideas. And after seeing Katia's Twinkle Nail project I decided I wanted to create a nail look that incorporated electronics. Here's a link to my moodboard for this week.
Pictures compiled from Pinterest Moodboard, click through for image reference credits.
Process & Workflow¶
First I thought about what I wanted the electronic effect to be. I knew I wanted the the look of the nails to be filled with chunky pieces of tech waste so I thought to make it simple, I would put an led on each nail and when you made the gesture of clicking your nails togther the lights would light, and when not touching they would turn off.
Testing where I wanted the connection to take place on the nails.
After I figured out where I wanted the connection to happen, I made my circuit on the breadboard. At first I wanted to wired my LEDs in series but then when it became clear that I would need a lot of voltage to power each one I decided to wire them in parallel.
When my circuit worked as I wanted, I needed to create small conductive connectors that could be placed on the nails. I decided to use a copper tape sheet that I could vinyl cut into design that would give me little conductive leads that I could solder my components to.
The design I used to cut the copper tape into small conductive connectors.
After I cut my little copper tape strips it was time to secure everything to the fake nails. I started by placing double sided tape on each nail, then placing the copper tape, then the LED which I soldered onto the the conductive tape, careful not to burn the nail. Then I soldered on the resitor to the negative leg of the LED and soldered the other end to another piece of conductive tape. I repeated this until all nails were done. On the thumb I only put a pice of conductive tape without the LED or resistor because this thumb nail would act as the switch.
Testing LED Nails by olivia cueva
After everything was working, I added pieces of electronic waste to my nails, everything from broken buttons, cut wires, to pieces of computer chips.
Final Result: Cyborg Nails¶
Cyborg Nails lighting Up by olivia cueva