HEART THROBBER

i want to impact frequencies in your body that make you vibrate at a different level -Miley Cyrus

9. Wearables

RESEARCH

Imogen Heap MiMU Gloves. Software gloves for creating mapping between your movements and sound.

Artificial Intelligence and its False Lies by Mika Satomi

Anna Cain mood ring

Hug shirt by cutecircuit

Yoga pants by Wearable X

Others

• social body lab at ocad u
• Gerard Visuals
• Sound & Electromagnetic
• Cameron Hughes
  

The Knitted Radio

Yoel Fink

MiMU

References & Inspiration

• Thermal Coffee Coasters & Ceramic/Clay Coasters

To have a fully conceptualized idea I was thinking of *skip to the beat of my heart* or *heart throbber* other classic quips which were easy eough to actually create a full concept and device around. I wanted to have a skipping rope and buzz when it hit the floor or a sensor area on the body, I thought about making a beat box on the shirt, singing fake nails that would play when you touch, Thermochromic Ink candle holders, heat up coffee coaster, or Thermochromic Ink nails that would change colour when you set them on fire, or connecting another aspect that would sing or buzz when your heart rate got too high/fast. Too complicated. full circle back to velostat stepper, so we beep while we walk while our heart blinks, I'm hoping maybe if you go long enough, there will be some type of pattern we'll see.

HEART THROBBER

PROCESS & WORKFLOW

Tools

- Arduino IDE
- AD8232 Heart Monitor 
- ECG Pads
- Neopixel Strip of 18 leds
- Wires 
- Breadboard 
- Wire Covers & Heat Gun
- Wire Clamps 
- Felt & Other Fabrics 
- Solder Station 
- Scissors 
- Wire Cutters 
- Tape
- Copper Wire

SKETCHES

STEP BY STEP PROCESS

1. Connect AD8232 Heart Sensor to Arduino pins according to the diagram.

1. Breadboard the circuit including power, ground, signal, and LO+/- detection

1. Test raw values using Serial Monitor to ensure heartbeat signal is detected

1. Attach Neopixels to Pin D9, test strip with basic blink sketch

1. Solder headers and finalize components for wearable mounting

1. Upload final code, verify signal triggers both light and sound

1. Encase circuit in textile housing, create soft wearable pocket for board

1. Decorate with felt layers and embroidery to make it wearable + visually soft

SET UP & CIRCUIT

Component	Arduino Pin	Function
Neopixel	D9	LED signal
Buzzer	D8	Audio Feedback
AD8232 Output	A10	Analog heart signal
AD8232 Leads Off+	D12	Pad detection
AD8232 Leads Off-	D6	Pad detection

Code

#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>
#define PIN 9
#define NUMPIXELS 18
#define BUZZER_PIN 3
Adafruit_NeoPixel pixel(NUMPIXELS, PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);
int reading;

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);
  pinMode(12, INPUT);  // Setup for leads off detection LO +
  pinMode(6, INPUT);   // Setup for leads off detection LO -
  pinMode(18, INPUT);
  pixel.begin();
  pixel.setBrightness(50);
  pinMode(BUZZER_PIN, OUTPUT);
}

void loop() {
  if ((digitalRead(6) == 1) || (digitalRead(12) == 1)) {
    Serial.println('!');
  } else {
    // send the value of analog input 0:
    reading = analogRead(10);
    Serial.println(reading);
  tone(BUZZER_PIN, reading);
  }
  for (int i = 0; i < NUMPIXELS; i++) {
    pixel.setPixelColor(i, pixel.Color(reading / 4, 0, 0));
  }
 {
}
  pixel.show();
  delay(20);
}

RESULTS

RESTING HEARTRATE

VS.

FREQUENCY REGULATED HEARTRATE

• LEDs pulse in sync with heartbeat
• Buzzer emits tone with pulse strength
• Output varies when nervous system is activated (Dolphin device)

Final Thoughts / Learning

This was my first time translating a biosignal to both visual and auditory output in a wearable form. It made me reflect on emotional expression through tech, and how we might use clothing not just to cover our bodies, but to mirror and regulate what’s inside.

HEART STOMPER

RESEARCH & REFERENCES

Inspired by: ankle monitors, wearable therapy for neurodivergent users, and silent alarm devices. Ana Delvey’s ankle monitor also gave me the courage to make wearable tech fun + taboo.

PROCESS & WORKFLOW

Tools

• Arduino IDE
• Wires
• Breadboard
• Buzzer
• Velostat
• Copper Duct Tape
• 100K Resistors
• Wire Covers & Heat Gun
• Wire Clamps
• Felt & Other Fabrics
• Solder Station
• Scissors
• Wire Cutters

STEP BY STEP PROCESS

Cut velostat into sole shape, layer with copper tape for contact

Create analog pressure pad using velostat + tape sandwich

Wire pad to breadboard, one lead to 5V, one to A0 with 100K pulldown

Connect buzzer to D8, use digitalWrite() to toggle based on input

Test by stepping on pad in shoe, verify values in Serial Monitor

Sew into sock or slipper sole, hide wires with felt or elastic

SET UP & CIRCUIT

Component	Pin	Function
Velostat	A0	Analog pressure
Buzzer	D8	Sound Output

Code

#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>
#define PIN 9
#define NUMPIXELS 18
#define BUZZER_PIN 3

Adafruit_NeoPixel pixel(NUMPIXELS, PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);
int reading;

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);
  pinMode(12, INPUT);  // Setup for leads off detection LO +
  pinMode(6, INPUT);   // Setup for leads off detection LO -
  pinMode(18, INPUT);
  pixel.begin();
  pixel.setBrightness(50);
  pinMode(BUZZER_PIN, OUTPUT);
}

void loop() {
  if ((digitalRead(6) == 1) || (digitalRead(12) == 1)) {
    Serial.println('!');
  } else {
    // send the value of analog input 0:
    reading = analogRead(10);
    Serial.println(reading);
  tone(BUZZER_PIN, reading);
  }
  for (int i = 0; i < NUMPIXELS; i++) {
    pixel.setPixelColor(i, pixel.Color(reading / 4, 0, 0));
  }
 {
}
  pixel.show();
  delay(20);
}

Results

• Buzzer triggers each time heel steps down
• Output is tactile and reactive
• Successfully mapped a basic actuator swatch
  

Final Thoughts

This swatch taught me how to trigger outputs using analog pressure input. I plan to upgrade this swatch with vibration motors instead of buzzers, and make it fully soft-circuit ready. It’s a great add-on for emotional state feedback in wearables. This was a fun second actuator — low-tech, fast to build, and super functional. I’d love to expand it into a silent alarm tool for overstimulation or install a vibration disc for quiet haptic output.

COMING UP NEXT

TINKERBISH