::first vital sign
PONG VEST is a game vest that transforms a social phenomenon into a fun and awkward experience right where it happens.
Does it really matter where you play the game? Will the context enhances, or subverts the game experience? It is going to be a mixture of all. My vital sign for this first assignment is human gesture and the particular one I am looking into is men’s most mysterious phenomenon-”nipple grabbing.” In my participant observation, grabbing each other’s nipples is an interesting activity among men. They are sensitive; they are weak; They are the best targets for a friendly attack. It is usually the last minute enhancement to a joyful picture of close friendship. We’ve seen this happened countless time among us so now it is time to spicy it up! PONG is hands down the best solution to this project. Despite the fact that PONG is the best example for a paddle controller game, this historical landmark symbolizes the beginning of our body as a playground.
::precedents:
Instead of detecting a vital sign and have the wearable react to it passively I want the wearable to take over the initiation and then trigger the vital sign. Jennifer’s Intimate Controller will not become an intimate wearable until the interaction begins when the players touch the predesignated buttons in their underwear. (This reverse process also applies to most of the sensorless LED garments.)
A. Game controller and underwear- Jennifer Chowdhry and her Intimate Controllers
Jennifer Chowdhury, the mind behind what is either the stupidest or the greatest idea of all time, started by making a bra into a paddle controller. Touching the left breast made the paddle go left, and touching the right one made it go right. Building off of that, she came up with the controllers that has six different sensors in it, and for the fellas there’s a set of boxer shorts with another six sensors.
B. massage-me
Massage-me is a wearable massage interface that turns a video game player’s excess energy into a back massage for an innocent bystander.
C. Joseph Beuys
D. Lee Bontecou
E.Issey Miyake
C.D.E. Design wise, I look into works by Joesph Beuys, Lee Bontecou, and Issey Miyake. I want to bring out the awareness of a piece of cloth and the three dimensional aspect of it.
::methodology
>sketch out
click to enlarge
>testing the circuit on a breadboard
>solder them to a board and rearrange to make the circuit smaller
>hide the LCD serial output under the Stamp socket to save some space.
>mono phone jack as control input for easy detachment
>add serial port ( the four pin thingy ) for easy update
>screen testing
>the paddle controller is complete! (still need some skins)
>start sewing lately. I only know one way to sew and Alison taught me how to close it. I am covering the technology with fabric and will eventually move to bigger piece.
>it is done!
