9. Wearables¶

Research¶

Cover Art- Nadia Attmore

References & Inspiration¶

I went to Chris Brown Breezy Bowl concert earlier this year, which served as an unplanned but major inspiration for my study on wearable technology. Chris Brown wore an LED tactical vest that changed patterns, lit his upper body, and showed moving graphics throughout the performance. Instead of viewing technology as a specific component, the vest turned his body into a living screen that reacted and was programmed in real time to movement and music. I was impressed by how the LEDs were added into the garment. The lighting became a part of the performance , adding even more movement, and energy rather than feeling heavy . This experience made me reevaluate how light could be used as a wearable piece instead of just an accessory.

Tools¶

- Arduino Uno 
- Bread Board
- Addressable LED Strip
- Clear Adhesive
- Alligator Clips
- 3D Printeed Skeletal Hand
- Jumper Wires

Process and workflow¶

Flipping Magnet¶

For the first experiment, I created a simple electromagnetic mechanism to explore motion and interaction using basic electronic components.

First, I made a coil by wrapping insulated copper wire tightly around a pen approximately 100+ times, leaving two long ends extending from the coil. Once the coil was formed, I tied off the wire to secure its shape. The insulation on the two exposed ends was then removed by briefly burning them with a lighter and lightly sanding the tips until the conductive copper core was visible. I confirmed that the wire ends were conductive by testing them with a multimeter.

Next, I placed a small magnet directly on top of the copper coil. When the two exposed wire ends were connected to a battery, the circuit closed and created a temporary electromagnetic field. This caused the magnet to suddenly flip or jump, demonstrating how electrical current can be translated into physical movement. This simple mechanism helped illustrate how electromagnetic principles can be incorporated into wearable or interactive designs.

Steps for Magnet Flipping¶

    Create a coil of copper wire by wrapping it around a pen between 100+  times.

    Tie off with two strands coming from the coil.

    Use a lighter to burn the ends, after that sand 
    them. The purpose for this, the coating is removed, leaving the conductive area.
    Use a multimeter to measure its conductivity.

    Position the magnet above the copper coil.

    Attach a battery on both ends.

    The magnet will flip when the circuit is closed.

LED Strip¶

Step 1: 3D Hand

The skeletal hand was designed and printed in earlier weeks, allowing it to function as a rigid outer structure. The open spaces between the bones were intentionally left visible so light could pass through, creating an internal glow effect once the LEDs were installed.

Step 2: Setting it Up

Instead of dividing it into portions, I used a single continuous addressable LED strip. The internal data flow would have been disrupted and the LEDs would not have functioned if the strip had been cut. In order for the lights to shine upward through the hand instead of sitting on top of it, the strip went underneath and through the skeletal hand.

Step 3: Wiring

The LED strip’s data pin was connected to Pin 10 on the Arduino Uno. Power and ground were connected through the breadboard. The Arduino was powered through USB for testing and programming

Step 4: The Code

Using the Arduino IDE and the Adafruit NeoPixel library, I uploaded a program that controls the color and brightness of the LEDs. The LEDs are set to a soft purple tone.

Step 5:

Tiny adhesive dots were used to attach the LED strip to the bottom of the hand. This made it possible for the LEDs to send light through the holes in the 3D printed piece while not showing. To maintain the wearable both aesthetically pleasing, wires were run around the back of the hand.

Code Example¶

    #include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>


    #define LED_COUNT 36
    #define PIN 10

    Adafruit_NeoPixel leds(LED_COUNT, PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);

    int R = 128;
    int G = 0;
    int B = 128;
    int brightness = 32;

    void setup() 
    {
    leds.begin();
    clearLEDs();
    }

    void loop()
    {
    for (int i = 0; i < LED_COUNT; i++) {
        leds.setPixelColor(i, R, G, B);
        leds.setBrightness(brightness);
        leds.show();
    }
    }
    void clearLEDs()
    {
    for (int i=0; i < 30; i++){
        leds.setPixelColor(i,0);
        leds.show();
    }
    }