9. Wearables¶
Research¶
What are Wearables?
Wearables are wearable technologies integrated into clothing or accessories to add functionality that interacts with the body or its surroundings. These technologies can rely on sensors, lighting, motion, or smart materials that change in response to heat, touch, or electrical signals. This type of design aims to transform an item from a mere aesthetic element into a living system capable of measuring, communicating, or expressing itself, while maintaining comfort, flexibility, and everyday usability.
When did Wearables Start to Emerge?
The concept of wearables began to emerge in the 1960s with early attempts to integrate technology into wearable objects, such as wearable calculators and simple tracking devices. However, the real breakthrough came in the 1990s with the development of microcomputing, and the field expanded significantly after 2010 with the proliferation of flexible electronics, micro-sensors, and digital printing on fabrics. Today, wearables is a comprehensive field that integrates design, engineering, interactivity, and smart materials.
Wearables are used in a wide range of fields that combine technology and human interaction, including:
Health and Sports: Monitoring physical activity, measuring heart rate, tracking sleep, and alerting users to vital signs.
Safety and Surveillance: Devices that help track location, alert users in emergencies, or monitor workers in hazardous environments.
Interactive Fashion: Clothing that changes with light, heat, or movement, used in artistic and theatrical performances and in futuristic fashion design.
Education and Research: Tools that help study human movement, neural responses, or biology through direct measurements from the body.
Entertainment and Augmented Reality: Devices that create visual or auditory interaction with augmented reality and VR games.
Humanitarian Aid and Accessibility: Wearables support people with disabilities, such as tactile translation devices or systems that help the blind navigate.
These applications combine functionality and sensory experience, making wearables a bridge between technology and the body, and between science and design.
References & Inspiration¶
This section focuses on showcasing a range of designers and projects that formed the core inspiration for this work. By examining the work of specialists in wearables and interactive fashion, the aim was to understand the different approaches to integrating technology into textiles and to explore new ways of creating interaction between the body and the material. This section presents diverse examples illustrating how movement, light, sensors, or smart materials can be transformed into a design language that enriches the wearable experience.
1. Tommy Hilfiger
designed Zendaya's dress with this experimental vision, blending fashion with interactive technology. In this design, Hilfiger integrated LED strips into the dress, allowing it to transform from a muted gray to a vibrant blue in a dramatic moment, showcasing the dynamic side of wearables. This experiment demonstrates the designer's ability to transcend the boundaries of traditional fashion and move towards artistic wearables, where the garment is not merely a static suit but an interactive element brimming with energy and expression.
2. Pauline Van Dongen
One of the leading designers of wearables. She works on integrating technology into everyday clothing, especially solar fabrics and smart sportswear.
3. XS Labs – Joanna Berzowska
A researcher and designer who is an academic leader in smart fabrics and interactive materials. She focuses on integrating electronics into fabrics in an invisible way.
4. CuteCircuit
A brand specializing in smart fashion that utilizes LEDs, sensors, and connectivity between clothing and smartphones. They designed Katy Perry's light-up dress.
5. Studio XO
A British studio that works with celebrities like Lady Gaga. They specialize in wearable performance technology, combining robotics with theatrical costumes.
Experiments we enjoyed During the week¶
Microcontroller¶
We started working with the Arduino Uno in the previous weeks, learning the basics of operating electronic circuits and reading sensors. After mastering the fundamentals, we moved on to the next stage by starting with Seeed Studio.
you can read more about SEED STUDIO & FABRI XIAO in Etextile week by clicking HERE.
The next step was seed studio & fabri xiao soldering. In this step, we must be very careful during the welding process so that the points do not touch each other and cause a short circuit.
And this is soldering result:
The picture below is the pinout of the FabriXiao with the Seeed XIAO
After soldering I made a test of connectivety with breadboard circuit
It is simple blink circuit,but instead of arduino uno in the picture we used the fabrixiao.
I used the blinking code:
// the setup function runs once when you press reset or power the board
void setup() {
// initialize digital pin LED_BUILTIN as an output.
pinMode(LED_BUILTIN, OUTPUT);
}
// the loop function runs over and over again forever
void loop() {
digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, HIGH); // turn the LED on (HIGH is the voltage level)
delay(1000); // wait for a second
digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, LOW); // turn the LED off by making the voltage LOW
delay(1000); // wait for a second
}
Transistor circuit preparing¶
Definition of a transistor
A transistor is a small electronic component that acts as a switch or amplifier for electrical signals within circuits. It allows for the control of current flow using a small signal, making it fundamental to the operation of motors, sensors, and lighting in most electronic projects.
What is a Transistor Driver Circuit?
A Transistor Driver Circuit is a circuit that uses a transistor (BJT or MOSFET) as an intermediary element to amplify the current or voltage, enabling the microcontroller or sensor to operate components that require more power than it can directly supply.
In other words, it's a circuit that acts as a power bridge between a small signal (from an Arduino, for example) and a load that requires more power (such as a motor, a high-power LED, a relay, etc.).
How does it work in short?
The microcontroller sends a small signal → the transistor receives it and acts as a switch or amplifier → allowing a large current to flow from an independent power source to the load (motor, LEDs, etc.).
What are its uses?
1. Operating motors (DC motors, servo motors, stepper motors)
Because motors require a much higher current than the microcontroller can handle, a driver circuit is used to control them.
2. Powering High-Power Loads
For example:
High-intensity LEDs
LED Strips
Buzzers
Coils
Solenoids
3. Controlling Wearables and E-textiles
For example:
Powering LED lighting embedded in clothing
Mobilizing small parts with soft robotics
Converting a small signal from an Arduino into a large current within smart fabrics
4. Isolating and Protecting the Microcontroller
Because the transistor can handle the high current instead of the microcontroller.
5. Converting a small signal into a powerful electronic switch
It can be used as an electronically controlled on/off switch instead of a mechanical button.
For this circuit we use TIP 120 BJT trnsistor
Tools:!!
Transistor
Resistor
Copper tape
Cardboard
Soldering iron + solder
Tape for insulator
Multimeter (continuity mode)
Jumper wires
Sound flows from the loop:¶
The Coil experience transforms into a wearable headset.¶
A soft speaker is a flexible speaker made using soft materials such as fabrics, polymers, or thin layers of conductive copper, instead of the rigid components found in traditional speakers. This type of speaker relies on integrating a coil with a flexible diaphragm, allowing it to produce sound vibrations despite its simple construction and soft materials. Soft speakers are used in e-textiles, wearables, and soft robotics projects because they are lightweight, flexible, and can be integrated into fabrics or flexible surfaces without compromising user comfort. They offer an innovative way to transform sound into a soft, tangible experience that can be worn or seamlessly integrated into a design.
I tried two types of materials for the soft speakers.
First experiment: Conductive tape speakers:
To get the sound from the speaker we need to connect it to power supply 9volt, so when I connect it clicks sound appeared, we checked all the parts of the circuit and we didn't find any shorts or problems, so I complet check the voice:
to get the sound we use a big magnet.
Second experiment: Conductive thread stitched speakers:
For this experiment I used denim fabric and a conductive thread, and made a hand stitching coil.
I tried it two times with the same circuit, in the first try it didn't work, but in the second try it works very well.
The code that I used
int buzzerPin = 8; // Pin connected to the buzzer
int melody[] = {262, 294, 330, 349, 392, 440, 494, 523}; // Frequencies for C4 to C5
void setup() {
pinMode(buzzerPin, OUTPUT);
}
void loop() {
for (int i = 0; i < 8; i++) {
tone(buzzerPin, melody[i]); // Play the note
delay(500); // Wait for 500 milliseconds
noTone(buzzerPin); // Stop the tone
delay(50); // Short pause between notes
}
}
Discover how sensors make our projects interact with our surroundings¶
First type : LDR sensor: I tried LDR sensor in Etextile week so you can read more about my experiment HERE
Second TYPE: DISTANT SENSOR-HC-SR04
This is an ultrasonic distance sensor used to accurately and affordably measure the distance between itself and any object in front of it. It works by emitting an inaudible sound wave and then receiving its echo to calculate the distance based on the time it takes for the wave to return.
Main components:
Trigger Pin: Emits a short pulse to initiate the measurement.
Echo Pin: Receives the reflected wave and measures its time.
Transmitter (TX): Emits ultrasonic waves at a frequency of 40 kHz.
Receiver (RX): Receives the reflected waves.
Electronic board: Contains the signal generation, transmission, and reception circuitry.
Below one of using trials:
And the arduino code that I used
/int trigPin = 6; // Trigger
int echoPin = 7; // Echo
long duration, cm, inches;
void setup() {
//Serial Port begin
Serial.begin (9600);
//Define inputs and outputs
pinMode(trigPin, OUTPUT);
pinMode(echoPin, INPUT);
pinMode(LED_BUILTIN, OUTPUT);
}
void loop() {
// The sensor is triggered by a HIGH pulse of 10 or more microseconds.
// Give a short LOW pulse beforehand to ensure a clean HIGH pulse:
digitalWrite(trigPin, LOW);
delayMicroseconds(5);
digitalWrite(trigPin, HIGH);
delayMicroseconds(10);
digitalWrite(trigPin, LOW);
digitalWrite(trigPin, LOW);
digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, HIGH);
// Read the signal from the sensor: a HIGH pulse whose
// duration is the time (in microseconds) from the sending
// of the ping to the reception of its echo off of an object.
pinMode(echoPin, INPUT);
duration = pulseIn(echoPin, HIGH);
// Convert the time into a distance
cm = (duration/2) / 29.1; // Divide by 29.1 or multiply by 0.0343
Serial.print(cm);
Serial.print("cm");
Serial.println();
if ( cm < 15 )
{
digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, HIGH);
}
else
{
digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, LOW);
delay(800);
}
}
Exploring Light Control with LEDs and Neopixels:¶
LEDs are small, efficient light points used to add simple illumination or indicators in electronic circuits, and they are characterized by low power consumption. Neopixels, on the other hand, are smart LEDs, each of which can be individually controlled in terms of color and brightness, allowing for the creation of complex and customized lighting effects in wearables and digital interaction projects.
Before start my experiment with neopixels, first I downloaded the Adafruit Neopixels from arduino library:
then I started to test the Neopixels using Arduino uno:
I used the following code for this try, you can change the stripe color numbers to get different colors.
#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>
#define PIN 6
#define N_LEDS 10 // Change this to the number of LEDs in your strip
Adafruit_NeoPixel strip = Adafruit_NeoPixel(N_LEDS, PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);
void setup() {
strip.begin();
}
void loop() {
for(int i=0; i<strip.numPixels(); i++) {
strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(0, 20, 255, 50)); // Red color
strip.show();
delay(500);
strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(0,0,0)); // Turn off
}
}
The Magic of Color Change: An Experiment with Thermochromic Pigments:¶
Thermochromic pigments are dyes that change color when exposed to heat, making them ideal for interactive applications in fabrics and smart materials. They are used in wearables, textiles, and educational experiments to demonstrate an immediate visual response to temperature changes.
Organic motion: Bringing biomaterials to life with Servo motor¶
A servo motor is a precision motor that allows for precise control of the angle of movement within a defined range, responding directly to signals from a microcontroller such as an Arduino. It is widely used in interactive projects, robotics, and wearables to create precise and controlled movements.
