9. Wearables

Research

In textile design, "weable" typically refers to materials, structures, or components that are suitable for weaving. These can be fibers, threads, or other flexible elements that can interlace in a warp and weft pattern to form a fabric. For example, traditional fibers like cotton, wool, and silk are weable because they have the flexibility, durability, and strength to be woven on a loom. Modern weable materials might also include synthetic fibers like polyester or specialized conductive threads used in smart textiles and e-textiles, which can carry electrical signals and allow for interactive or responsive fabric designs.

References & Inspiration

Today's manufacturers understand the importance of meeting customer needs. In the textile and fashion industries, success often comes from adding advanced technology into fabrics. This has led to the rise of "smart clothes." Unlike regular wearable devices, these clothes look normal but have built-in technology. smart clothes

Inspiration

Inspired by the vibrant and futuristic designs of Neon Cowboys' scarves, I envision creating a wearable textile that merges bold, glowing aesthetics with functionality. Their playful use of neon colors and light elements sparks ideas for integrating LED or electroluminescent components into textiles, crafting accessories that are both fashion-forward and interactive. This inspiration aligns perfectly with my passion for blending technology and design to create unique, eye-catching pieces. Neon Cowboys

By using VISUAL ACTUATOR

In the fifth week of the course, I focused on experimenting with various circuits and components to understand their functions and interactions. This hands-on process helped me learn how the components behave, test their compatibility, and fine-tune configurations for better performance. These explorations laid a solid foundation for designing my envisioned wearable device and ensured I could integrate the components effectively into my final project.

XIAO ESP32-C3

The XIAO ESP32-C3 is a tiny, powerful board that combines Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. It uses a fast RISC-V processor and is perfect for small projects like wearables and smart devices.

1. Materials Needed

XIAO ESP32-C3 : The main microcontroller for your wearable project.

Neopixels: for lighting effects in wearables

Jumper wires: To connect the components.

Battery pack: To power the Flora board when worn.

Potentiometer: for adjusting opixels brightness,

Circuit sketch

The circuit sketch integrates LEDs, a power source, and a Xiao ESP32 to make the scarf interactive and functional. It ensures flexibility, aligns with the scarf’s design, and offers a lightweight, wearable solution with smart connectivity.

Circuit diagram

This circuit diagram shows how the LEDs, battery, and safety pin switch are connected to make the scarf interactive. Conductive thread is used to create the electrical pathways, while the battery is hidden inside the knitted covers. The safety pin acts as a switch to turn the LEDs on and off, allowing the scarf to light up when needed. The design combines simplicity and functionality, making it both wearable and responsive.

Code

//
// Define the LED pins
const int ledPin1 = 1;  // D1 corresponds to GPIO1 on the ESP32-C3
const int ledPin2 = 2;  // D2 corresponds to GPIO2 on the ESP32-C3
const int ledPin3 = 3;  // D3 corresponds to GPIO3 on the ESP32-C3
const int ledPin4 = 4;  // D4 corresponds to GPIO4 on the ESP32-C3
const int ledPin5 = 5;  // D5 corresponds to GPIO5 on the ESP32-C3

void setup() {
  // Initialize all LED pins as outputs
  pinMode(ledPin1, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(ledPin2, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(ledPin3, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(ledPin4, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(ledPin5, OUTPUT);

  // Ensure all LEDs start off
  digitalWrite(ledPin1, LOW);
  digitalWrite(ledPin2, LOW);
  digitalWrite(ledPin3, LOW);
  digitalWrite(ledPin4, LOW);
  digitalWrite(ledPin5, LOW);
}

void loop() {
  // First, blink all LEDs together
  for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
    digitalWrite(ledPin1, HIGH);
    digitalWrite(ledPin2, HIGH);
    digitalWrite(ledPin3, HIGH);
    digitalWrite(ledPin4, HIGH);
    digitalWrite(ledPin5, HIGH);
    delay(500);  // Wait for 500 milliseconds

    digitalWrite(ledPin1, LOW);
    digitalWrite(ledPin2, LOW);
    digitalWrite(ledPin3, LOW);
    digitalWrite(ledPin4, LOW);
    digitalWrite(ledPin5, LOW);
    delay(500);  // Wait for 500 milliseconds
  }

  // Then, blink LEDs one by one
  digitalWrite(ledPin1, HIGH);
  delay(500);
  digitalWrite(ledPin1, LOW);

  digitalWrite(ledPin2, HIGH);
  delay(500);
  digitalWrite(ledPin2, LOW);

  digitalWrite(ledPin3, HIGH);
  delay(500);
  digitalWrite(ledPin3, LOW);

  digitalWrite(ledPin4, HIGH);
  delay(500);
  digitalWrite(ledPin4, LOW);

  digitalWrite(ledPin5, HIGH);
  delay(500);
  digitalWrite(ledPin5, LOW);
}
                     // wait for a second

After testing the pixels and uploading the code, I integrated them into the fabric. I focused on ensuring the LEDs were secure and the fabric remained flexible. The result was a functional and visually appealing textile with working pixels.

This picture shows how my wearable looks, highlighting the seamless integration of the pixels into the fabric for a sleek, functional design.

Here is a video showcasing my wearable textile, taken over three different periods to demonstrate its development and functionality.

textile speaker

A textile speaker operates by transforming electrical energy into sound waves through the interaction of three essential components: a permanent magnet, an electromagnet (coiled wire), and a vibrating membrane. This process relies on the principles of electromagnetism. When an electric current passes through the coiled wire, it generates a magnetic field, which becomes stronger due to the coiling. The electromagnet is connected to a circuit powered by a battery and an audio signal, where the audio signal's varying electrical frequencies cause the magnetic field of the coil to fluctuate. Placed near a permanent magnet, these fluctuations generate forces of attraction and repulsion between the two magnetic fields. This interaction causes the membrane—integrated into the textile structure—to vibrate. The vibrating membrane moves the surrounding air, creating sound waves that reproduce the original audio signal. By incorporating these components into flexible, fabric-based systems, textile speakers offer innovative opportunities for embedding sound within wearable and soft surfaces.

Key Components

1. Conductive Yarn or Fabric

2. Electromagnet (Coil of Wire)

3. Permanent Magnet

4. Power Source

5. Audio Signal Source

6. Textile Layer

7. Microcontroller

Steps

1. Design the Coil

2. Attach the Permanent Magnet

3. Power the Coil

4. Integrate the Vibrating Membrane

5. Test with an Audio Signal

Results

Video

From Vimeo

Sound Waves from George Gally (Radarboy) on Vimeo.

From Youtube

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Fabrication files

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1. File: xxx ↩

2. File: xxx ↩