XS Labs is a design research studio founded by Joanna Berzowska with a focus on innovation in the fields of electronic textiles and reactive garments—second skins—that can enable computationally-mediated interactions with the environment and the individual. Their recent work explores how clothes might harness energy generated by repetitive body movements. -- How did you start working with wearables? 'While a student at the MIT Media Lab in the mid 1990’s, I was drawn to electronic textiles for their ability to conform to the human body and their potential for bringing softness to physical interfaces. The work I was conducting in HCI focused on tangible interaction and involved the manipulation of physical objects with the human hand. I anticipated that electronic textiles would allow us to expand the realm of physical interaction into a wearable context and to explore the boundaries of what I call “beyond the wrist” interaction.' Captain Electric is a strong example of XS Labs recent focus on energy. These designs explore rigid forms and unnatural movements to generate energy, forcing the users into awkward (but playful) interactions with their outfits.
The second project Office dress, intents to be more “usable” and take the advantage of the repetitive movements in a typical office environment. The lower back of the dress is augmented with a padded cushion, in which they have integrated piezoelectric components. While at work, the cushion is flipped up to support the lumbar region. The tedious repetitive movements inherent in office work builds up during the course of the day. When the office worker can't bear the tension any longer, she gets up from her office chair and flips the padded cushion down to accentuate the traditional tailored silhouette of the dress. The action releases the stored energy, resulting in a burst of light that travels through the front neckline of the dress. |
|||
