13. Implications and applications¶
Why¶
I began my research by exploring the relationship between two concepts: “Quality of Life” and “Open Source.” The first defines the goal of living fully, while the second provides the tools and philosophy needed to achieve it in an open and collaborative way.
Building on this connection, I delved into a key capability that fosters the free interaction between an individual and their environment: autonomy. Subsequently, I focused my attention on one of the most commonly used senses: vision. This led me to reflect on the various visual capabilities that exist, which can be categorized into six main groups. Among these, I explored color perception, specifically color blindness, a condition that involves difficulty distinguishing certain colors.
References & Inspiration¶
In my research on creators, I found several designers who create clothing adapted to diverse abilities, ensuring comfort, accessibility, and style for all individuals. Many designers are leading this initiative by developing adaptive clothing lines:
Tommy Hilfiger Adaptive: This line includes features such as magnetic closures, easy-open necklines, and adjustable hems to cater to people with various disabilities, making dressing easier without compromising style.
Marisa Conners : A Cincinnati-based designer, Conners creates customizable adaptive clothing. Her garments include options like magnetic closures and concealed zippers for medical access, prioritizing both style and functionality.
Izzy Camilleri Adaptive Clothing (IZ Adaptive): Known for chic designs for wheelchair users, this line includes jackets that are cut shorter in the back to prevent bunching and pants with higher rises for comfort when seated.
This initial research helped me understand that there is a large number of people dedicated to the topic of inclusion. However, in my daily life, if I don’t actively seek out this information, it’s difficult for me to come across it due to my everyday routine. For this reason, I identified an important area of opportunity in the dissemination, which is currently in the process of growth.
I continued my research using new tools, linking the idea of dissemination, and I found several artists and creators who combine technology and art. They develop projects such as prosthetics and tools, among others, promoting and empowering their relationship with the world through their own creations, while at the same time challenging their own limits.
Neil Harbisson is an artist and activist known for being the first human legally recognized with a "cybernetic head." Born with achromatopsia, a condition that prevents him from perceiving colors, Harbisson developed a device called the "Eyeborg," which is a cybernetic implant that converts colors into sound vibrations. Thanks to this technology, Harbisson can "hear" colors through a series of tones corresponding to the frequencies of the colors captured by the device.
Throughout his life, Harbisson has used his technology to explore how humans can integrate technology into their bodies in ways that expand their senses. He is also an advocate for art and identity in the digital age, and his work challenges traditional notions of sensory perception, identity, and what it means to be human. He has been a defender of cyborg rights and has participated in various initiatives promoting body modification through technology.
Caroline Sinders is a designer, researcher, and activist who specializes in the intersection of technology, design, and social justice. Her work focuses on how technologies can be used in a more inclusive way, especially in areas related to accessibility and equity in digital design.
One of Caroline Sinders' most relevant projects focuses on digital accessibility and inclusive design. She has worked on creating inclusive interfaces that allow people with disabilities, such as visual or auditory impairments, to interact with technology more effectively. Through her projects, Sinders explores how to improve the accessibility of digital platforms so that they are more useful to a wide range of users, including those with disabilities.
The Eyetap Digital Eyeglass is an innovative device developed by MSteve Mann, a pioneer in the field of wearables (portable technology) and a prominent academic in electrical engineering and computing. Mann is known as the "father of digital glasses" and has been an advocate of the concept of "augmented intelligence," where technology is integrated with the human body to enhance sensory abilities.
The Eyetap Digital Eyeglasses are glasses equipped with technology that allows the overlay of digital images onto the user's natural view. These glasses not only enhance vision but also have the ability to modify how people perceive the world, adding visual information and, in some cases, enabling the correction of certain sensory deficits.
What, Who, When, Where?¶
The third eye on a bracelet¶
An open-source design proposal to develop an affordable and accessible alternative focused on color recognition in daily life. This accessory aims to be not only functional but also to convey a sense of empowerment to its user.
Currently, there is a wide variety of devices on the market designed to enhance people's perception in a non-intrusive way, such as AirPods, ocular implants, glasses, applications, and more. These devices have been developed over the years, and the commitment to making them increasingly accessible for everyone continues to grow.
I would like to draw inspiration from the versatility and dynamism in the forms of Aman Agrawal is an industrial and computational designer who specializes in creating advanced 3D surface models and parametric textures used in manufacturing. He has worked with major industry leaders like Design Partners, Logitech, BSH, and Hamilton Beach. Through his experience, Aman shares his expertise with design students and professionals globally by teaching courses such as the "Ad Parametric Texture Workshop" at Cademy. His teaching focuses on using computational design tools like Grasshopper and Rhino to help students develop complex, data-driven design solutions.