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9. Wearables

Research

Origami figures with light on a body

In textiles, wearable refers to any material or fabric designed to be worn on the body as clothing, accessories, or functional garments. These textiles are typically flexible, durable, and comfortable to suit the needs of the wearer. Wearables also extend to technologically enhanced garments that incorporate electronics or sensors to perform specific functions. These items go beyond traditional apparel by offering advanced functions such as sensing, tracking, communication, and environmental interaction, blending style with functionality.

Concepts

•   Integration of Technology and Aesthetics: The core idea is to embed technology unobtrusively into fabrics and designs. This moves beyond clunky gadgets to create products that are comfortable, stylish, and practical for everyday use.
•   Smart Textiles/E-textiles: The term often overlaps with "smart textiles" or "e-textiles," which are fabrics that have embedded electronic components like sensors, actuators, and conductive fibers. These materials can sense and react to external stimuli (e.g., pressure, temperature, movement).
•   Functionality Beyond Fashion: Wearables in this context serve specific purposes beyond simply covering the body or aesthetics.
    o   Health Monitoring: Tracking vital signs like heart rate, breathing patterns, body temperature, and movement for fitness or medical purposes.
    o   Enhanced Performance: Providing data and feedback for athletes to optimize training and prevent injuries.
    o   Interactive Experiences: Allowing users to control external devices (like smartphones or music players) through gestures or touch on the fabric itself.
    o   Adaptive Comfort: Garments that can self-regulate temperature, change color, or alter their shape based on environmental conditions.
•   Data Collection and Connectivity: Most wearables contain microprocessors and wireless connectivity (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi) to collect and transmit data to a smartphone app or cloud platform for analysis and user feedback.

Different images of wearables with technology

As fashion design evolves, staying informed about new materials, sensors, and connectivity options can keep you ahead. This tech revolution means learning about the integration of LEDs for aesthetic purposes or biometric sensors for health monitoring. It's about understanding how these innovations can lead to more personalized, functional clothing that still aligns with your style preferences. The key is to remain open-minded and curious about the possibilities wearable tech brings to fashion.

The key is: seamless integration. you should consider the placement of tech components to ensure they complement the garment's aesthetic.Technology should enhance the design, not distract from it, so think about how it can be woven into fabrics or hidden within seams for a sleek and functional finish., wearables in textiles and fashion represent a convergence of style and innovation, transforming clothing into intelligent, interactive systems that enhance the user's daily life.

Inspiration

Deco dress

Sound Embroidery is an installation of Claire Wiliams where speakers have been made using embroidery techniques. Visitors are invited to activate the speakers by placing a magnet in the centre of the copper shapes creating a magnetic field. A sound and vibratory composition is played between the eight embroidered shapes making a palpable experience of the sound phenomena. I looked for her biography, but could not find it.

CuteCircuit is the first wearable technology fashion company in the world, having been founded in 2004. CuteCircuit is a trailblazer in this area, fusing cutting-edge fashion design with cutting-edge technologies and intelligent textiles to produce stunning garments with amazing interactive features. The co-founders of CuteCircuit, Francesca Rosella and Ryan Genz, have backgrounds in anthropology and interaction design, respectively, and couture fashion design (Valentino).

Dresses with light and different shapes

Asher Levine is a visionary fashion designer known for his innovative approach to fashion, combining high technology with avant-garde aesthetics. Renowned for his work with iconic figures like Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, and Doja Cat, Asher has cemented his reputation in the industry by creating groundbreaking and designs that challenge conventional norms in fashion.

You can follow all on their websites: CuteCircuit AsherLevine ClaireWiliams

Exploration

I really like the lesson that Liza Stark gave us. It was very interesting and ilustrative. The tutorial of Emma Pareschi was as well amazing. Both have the ability to explain in a very simple way something as complex as technology. I made a research through all the references gave on the lessons I was amazed by the wonderful works made.

I made the Mosfet circuit for the lesson, but I couldn´t found an amplifier or speaker to connect it onto. So I decided to try another option and looking for other option I found out that there are different topologies for flat speakers design.

A graphic of different topologies Diagram for a sound circuit with a mosfet Diagram for a circuit with a mosfet made by me

Having a sewing machine at home, I tried to sew an spiral and a small square on different pieces of textile with conductive wire. The spiral I made sew them only with conductive wire on one side and the square in both. After that I connected them to a battery to see if it made any sound, when ever I get them near a magnet, but I assumed my magnet was nor as good as it meant to be because I could not hear a sound.

Two different spiral one more closed and the other not Picture of the spirals from the back where the conductive thhread is A small square sew with conductive thread on both sides

Sadly, no sound was heard so I decided to try it with a Arduino UNO. I

Sound Circuit

Tools

. Board
. Mosfet
. Buzzer
. Caimans
. Arduino UNO
. Boton switch
. 9V Battery

I prepare my board with all the elements requiered. I tried to do it using my logic, without asking ChatGTP. For my surprised I did manage to do it. Then I did ask Chat GTP to help me with the development of the Arduino circuit to be able to try it on. The circuit worked fine, but the button did not work as i was meant to, bur I discovered that the switched was damaged, so I made it with the computer mouse. The sound is not very loud, but if I had an amplifier I bet I would be different.

Sound circuit for Arduino UNO

Vibrator Circuit

Tools

. Board
. Mosfet
. Mini vibrator
. Caimans
. Arduino UNO
. Boton switch
. 9V Battery

Having my board prepared for the sound circuit, I mantained the same arrangement but only removing the buzzer and adding the mini vibrator. The vibrator functioned perfectly and I could control it by clicking the mouse. My biggest doubt is how to adapt it to a garment or a clothing element.

Vibrator circuit for Arduino UNO

Light-Up Clothing

Components:

Lily-pad microcontroller
Battery holder
Neo pixel
Conductive thread
Needle
Cr2032 battery

Procedure

I looked for a garment that I could used to place the Lily_pad, the battery holder and the neopixel. I decided to use an old blazer for it. Before I prepared the needle and I sew all the components, I decided to tried it on. Ghat GTP helped me to programmed the code. I wanted to the neopixel to change colors in a sequence and with a velostat sensor.Once I had the code ready I opened the Arduino application on my computer and looked for the Lily_pad fuction and reviewed the port to see whether evething was all right. It seemed all right. I proceeed to connect all the components and the Lily_pad to the computer and when I ran the code, there was a message saying that it couldn´t find the connection. I asked the to ChatGTP to help me solved the problem, bur even though I tried all the suggestions I could not solved the problem, saldly I dropped the mission.

Neopixel connected to the Lily_Pad using wire before I sew it to the garment

New Apporach

After trying the sound and the vibrating actuators, I notice thanks to my local instructor, Louise Massacrier's observation, That they were onlu inputs and not out puts. So I decided to use a Temperature/Humidity sensor and a vibrator motor so that when the temperature changes the vibrator reacts whether is higher or lower.

First I had to try the sensor alone, to see if it worked correctly or if not. I tried it with the Arduino Uno with the intention to try it later with the Lilypad and the FabricXiao, due to the problems I had with them before.

Once I had the sensor I had to search on internet the difference between the one that had three legs and the one that had four legas, because it was important for the connection. Mine only has three legs.

An image of the Temperature/Humidity sensor { width=200 align=left }

I found it and then I asked ChatGTP to help me try it out in a simply code. I found out that for it I had to lok on the Arduino Library the DHT11 sensor from ADAFRUIT. I looked for it and dowloaded it.

A picture of the DHT11 sensor found in the Arduino Library { width=200 align=left } A picture of it downloaded and installing { width=200 align=right }

Once I had it, I connected all the cables, making sure that they were not touching each other or not joined correctly. After that I connected the Arduino to the computer and started the compilation and uploading, using the next code:

C++

include "DHT.h"

define DHTPIN 2

define DHTTYPE DHT11

DHT dht(DHTPIN, DHTTYPE);

// --- VARIABLES PARA EL CAMBIO --- float temperaturaAnterior = 0; float umbralAlerta = 28.0; // Cambia este número según la temperatura de tu casa

void setup() { Serial.begin(9600); dht.begin(); Serial.println("Sistema de monitoreo activo..."); }

void loop() { delay(2000);

float t = dht.readTemperature();

if (isnan(t)) return;

// 1. Detectar si subió de X grados if (t > umbralAlerta) { Serial.print("!!! ALERTA: Temperatura alta: "); Serial.print(t); Serial.println("°C !!!"); } else { Serial.print("Temperatura normal: "); Serial.print(t); Serial.println("°C"); }

// 2. Detectar si la temperatura cambió respecto a la lectura anterior if (t != temperaturaAnterior) { Serial.print(" > Hubo un cambio. Nueva lectura: "); Serial.println(t); temperaturaAnterior = t; // Guardamos la nueva para la próxima comparación } }

Image of the board with the temperature/Humidity Sensor and the connection to the arduino { width=200 align=left }

An error appeared

Image of the error marked by Arduino uploading the code { width=200 align=left }

I noticed I had wrongly connected the cables, so I fixed the error and ran it again. This time it did work.

Image of the temperature lecture made by the sensor and noticed on the Serial Monitor { width=200 align=left }

After having tested it I tried to connect the Lilypad and the FabricXIAO, because I knew I had to adapt it on a garment and as well that it need it to have an IN-PUT and an OUT-PUT.

Sadly it did not work with neither of them. Definetly I need to buy new cables to connect them to the computer and as weel ask again the help of the members of the technology center ant the University.

I decided to get back to the arduino and find a way to adapt it to the garment. I thought on adapting the Temperature/Humidity sensor on a T-shirt in the sleeve, with a bag or something to carry the Arduino.

This time, I decide to add a vibrator motor, because in my attempts before it did work. So I wanted to program a code that when ever the temperature exceeded the standard temperature, the vibrator move every second and when the temperature drops, the vibrator move every two seconds.

| Component | Pin of the Component | Pin of the Arduino |

| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Sensor DHT11 | VCC (+) | GND |

| | VCC (+) | GND |

| | DATA (S/OUT) | Digital Pin 2 |

| Vibrator| Red cable (+)| Digital Pin 9 |

| | Blue cable (-) | GND |

In order to get a change on the temperature I warmed up a cloth and put it covering the sensor and to lower the temperature I add a cold compress on top of the sensor. The method worked and the vibrator motor moved asn I programmed the code.

Image of the hot cloth over the sensor { width=200 align=left } Image of the ice compress on top of the sensor { width=200 align=left }

This is the code I used:

C++

include "DHT.h"

define DHTPIN 2

define DHTTYPE DHT11

define MOTOR_PIN 9 // Pin donde conectarás el vibrador

DHT dht(DHTPIN, DHTTYPE);

float tempReferencia; bool referenciaTomada = false;

void setup() { Serial.begin(9600); pinMode(MOTOR_PIN, OUTPUT); dht.begin();

Serial.println("Esperando estabilidad del sensor (5 seg)..."); delay(5000); // Esperamos a que el sensor se estabilice }

void loop() { float t = dht.readTemperature(); if (isnan(t)) return;

// Tomamos la temperatura base la primera vez que lee correctamente if (!referenciaTomada) { tempReferencia = t; referenciaTomada = true; Serial.print("Temperatura de referencia fijada en: "); Serial.println(tempReferencia); }

Serial.print("Temp Actual: "); Serial.print(t); Serial.print(" | Referencia: "); Serial.println(tempReferencia);

// Lógica de vibración if (t >= tempReferencia + 3.0) { // SUBIÓ 3 GRADOS: Vibra cada segundo (500ms encendido, 500ms apagado) Serial.println("¡ALERTA CALOR! Vibrando cada segundo."); vibrar(500, 500); } else if (t <= tempReferencia - 3.0) { // BAJÓ 3 GRADOS: Vibra cada 3 segundos (500ms encendido, 2500ms apagado) Serial.println("¡ALERTA FRÍO! Vibrando cada 3 segundos."); vibrar(500, 2500); } else { // Temperatura normal: Motor apagado digitalWrite(MOTOR_PIN, LOW); delay(2000); } }

// Función auxiliar para controlar la vibración void vibrar(int tiempoEncendido, int tiempoApagado) { digitalWrite(MOTOR_PIN, HIGH); delay(tiempoEncendido); digitalWrite(MOTOR_PIN, LOW); delay(tiempoApagado); }

Some videos of them working

Hot Sensor video

Fabrication file

Cold sensor video

Monitoring the change of temperature

I haven´t manage the way to hold the Arduino on the garment. But at least I know the code works and the cthat the change of temperature is sensed by the Temperature/humiditySensor that makes the vibrator sensor move depending on the temperature.

Code Files

Neopixel Sound actuator Vibrator actuator Lilypad Vibrator actuator Temperature & Humidity Sensor 1 Temperature & Humidity Sensor 2 Temperature & Humidity Sensor 3