Practice Makes Perfect

Wearables Studio, Final Presentation
Sustainable Energy, Final Presentation, Part 2

This PowerPoint presentation about both the winter and summer version of the ListenUp Scarf targets the general public.

PPT Attachment pending until find correct format for uploading to site.

Wearables Studio, final weeks of class

The last few weeks have been devoted to constructing the final two scarves (winter and summer) and prototyping the circuitry for the audio scarf (winter). The summer scarf LED system is working fine.

Two main problems with the audio equipped scarf.

First, conductive thread did not hold continuity over the 90-inch length of the scarf. Need to develop a prototype using conductive fabric.

Second, the audio module is very persnickety. Original circuit worked at first on breadboard as long as playback was not hooked into Arduino. After lots of inconsistent and strange behavior from hacked Radio Shack audio module, I finally figured out that testing the module circuit board with multimeter was probably messing up the chip. Additional tweaks to the code and I had both the playback and record functions working on a fresh hacked module…..once. The module’s needs were clearly not being met. Appeared as though power was crossing the Arduino and module circuits despite common ground. Also, suspect that the voltage reaching the Arduino was ambiguous….was too low for it to be read 1 (HIGH) and too high to be read 0 (LOW).

Next prototype relied on major shift in hardware approach: integrating relays. The idea was that relays used as intermediate switches would robustly isolate the circuits and send clearer message to Arduino. Circuit lit surrogate LEDs but did not power the module itself. The module logic requires 9V. Appeared that relays were taking too much energy from this logic circuit.

The latest prototype shifts focus from hardware to code. Because the module works on negative logic (LOW is ON), a classmate suggested using an Arduino trick in which a weak communication signal is used as INPUT for purposes of sending unambiguous value. Still need to work on this approach. Initial breadboard result: record and playback switch indicator lights alternate on and off automatically without operating soft switches.

Had to turn away from getting the microcontroller version of the circuit figured out in order to have a working scarf for Spring Show. I set up four soft switches;2 for the negative logic module (record, playback) and 2 for the corresponding positive logic LED indicator lights. Stacked the paired indicator light and module switches to respond to same touch. Used wrapping wire for interim solution to continuity problem I experienced with conductive thread.

Plan to continue to work on the soft circuit fabrication and the circuitry logic. Hope to continue conversation with ArtSmart in response to an invitation to develop workshop series using the scarf concept. This organization provides self-esteem and confidence building programs to homeless youth. A visitor to the ITP Spring Show indicated interest in partnering with me if I pursued this opportunity.

The ListenUp Scarf

The Elevator Pitch
For a young teenage girl, the ListenUp Scarf is a canvas for self-expression and a reminder of her community of support. She collects snippets of conversations with the scarf and shares them in unconventional ways.

Description

Audio System: The scarf is equipped with Radio Shack 20-second audio modules controlled from an Arduino platform. The hacked modules can store multiple audio tracks. Two soft-switches are dedicated to record and playback functions, respectively. Soft circuit technology is used to locate the switches in one end of the scarf and the speaker and microphone in the opposite end.

Wearable Design: A bold pink and green color palette is arranged in curvilinear stripes lengthwise. Ornamentation includes matching trim in the summer version and, in the winter version, tassels and solar powered, nocturnal LED pummers (BEAM circuitry). The record and playback switches are distinguished by charms that spell out “SPEAK” and “LISTEN.”

Scenarios
As the young teenage girl stands in the kitchen wrapped in the scarf, her Mom grabs a dangling tassel to record an encouraging message her daughter can listen to later in the day. Gesturing theatrically with her scarf, the young girl operates the embedded audio modules and microprocessor to her friends’ delight, and to her own astonishment, finds a side of her she barely knew. A girlfriend enlists her as an ambassador to carry a message to a crush and retrieve a reply. Feelings she would ordinarily find too hard to share come more easily when she can deliver them through the scarf.

Because the scarf is all about voice, she thinks of it as a metaphor for speaking her truth. Soft, stylish and fashionable, she thinks of the scarf as harkening to her childhood security blanket while helping her grow into her next skin – that of a confident young woman.

The scarf creates memories of support and love she’s received and fun and friendships she’s experienced. At night it sparkles, as if celebrating who she is!

Key Words
Wearables, soft-circuits, BEAM circuitry, LED pummers, teenage self-esteem.

Team Members: Cynthia Hilmoe

Classes: Wearables Studio, Sustainable Energy

Space Requirement:
Presentation will be on an antique wall-mounted shelf with coat hooks, approximately 24” to 30” wide or a coat stand of some kind that takes up about 3X3 square foot area.

Equipment Needs:
A spot light shinning up from the base (in case of shelf).

Week 10, Wearables Studio

The Elevator Pitch
For a young teenage girl, the ListenUp scarf is a canvas for self-expression and a reminder of her community of support. She collects snippets of conversations with the scarf and shares them in unconventional ways.

Scenarios
As the young girl stands in the kitchen wrapped in the scarf, her Mom grabs a tassel dangling from it and records a message her daughter can listen to later in the day for encouragement. Gesturing theatrically with her scarf, she operates the embedded audio modules and microprocessors to her friends’ delight, and to her own astonishment, finds a side of her she barely knew. A girlfriend enlists her as an ambassador to carry a message to a crush and retrieve a reply. Feelings she would ordinarily find too hard to share come more easily when she can deliver them through the scarf.

Because the scarf is all about voice, she thinks of it as a metaphor for speaking her truth. Soft, stylish and fashionable, she thinks of the scarf as harkening to her childhood security blanket while helping her grow into her next skin – that of a confident young woman.

The scarf creates memories of support and love she’s received and fun and friendships she’s experienced. At night it sparkles, as if celebrating who she is!

Week 8, Wearables Studio

I developed this project overview based on this week’s Midterm Critique.

Click here for an overview of the project.

Click here for a list of and links to inspirations and research.

Click here for a PowerPoint presentation that briefly explains the project.

Images below include:

• The latest sketchs of the scarf designs;
• Images of girls and scarves that inspire the project;
• The three record and playback devices under consideration for the scarf prototype, including my first attempt at soldering a printed circuit board (PCB).

Kate Hartman’s Muttering Hat
Carolina Pina’s Jacket Jacketson

AnyTime Kit APR9600
Radio Shack 276-1323
Olympus VN4100PC Image Pending.

Week 7, Wearables Studio

I grew up one of four sisters. That meant, among other things, that I sort of missed the whole gathering up of girlfriends, competing for friendships and moving about as clusters – gaggles of girls, if you will. I came into the world with my own gaggle of girls. I had friends that were girls, but my teenage years weren’t filled with that angst, that intensity, as it was for some girls. Read the entire explanation….

Week 5: Wearables Studio

Call this the week of loose ends. Focus was to be on getting the circuit mapped and first prototype built. Instead, worked a little on everything, but didn’t wrap up anything.

Circuit:
The focus that might have been put into the circuit went instead to a very worthwhile, last-minute group project: Despina let us use the last of her adhesive-prepped, already-calibrated-at-NYU/AMS-laser-cutting-facility conductive fabric to create a simple soft circuit. At midnight before day of class, group nearly had circuit built. First run of power may be in class itself.

ListenUp circuit work did proceed, if not at the planned pace. Click here for schematic with microcontrol and here for schematic without microcontroller. [INSERT 2 SCAN]. In the process, I was able to pull together a first draft of a “circuit design worksheet.” [INSERT SCAN] This document, in the same spirit as those I have drawn up for other project planning/organizing steps (posted elsewhere in blog), should help greatly in future projects and help organize info I need going forward with ListenUp project development and implementation.

Interaction Model:
Retooled the design from a jacket to a scarf after feedback in class this week. One design is rounded and other is angular. [INSERT 2 SCAN] Created full-size paper mockups. Visited fabric shop and garment district again. Picked up fabric remnants for sewn mock up. Had intended to complete sewn mockup and photograph it for blog entry to be used for recruiting user groups next week…, but didn’t quite make it.

User Experience Testing:
I have been continuously working on elements of a plan to recruit young girls for user testing. Plan elements include initiative to collect referrals to leaders of girls groups, preparation of a PowerPoint presentation to help collect feedback on fashion preferences, sewn mockups for girls to actually try, and a blog entry that organizes all this information in a way that successfully pitches the project to motivate participation in testing as well as organizes the material for seamless implementation of the user testing activities.

This has been a lot of work. This week, I started revising the original blog entry (Week 4) and the PowerPoint Presentation (Week 3) after project changed from a jacket to a scarf. Since I want to make contact with leaders during Week 6, I am under pressure to figure out a way to complete the blog with or without photos of sewn mockups. Maybe finish up blog for now with sketches and take sewn mock up with me to meetings next week. This is crazy making — this outreach is similar, but not exactly the same as other outreach/recruiting efforts I’ve done in my professional life. I know how important it is to get the hook right on the first try.

Materials:M
Made additional trips to garment district and local fabric stores. Found out last night (2/27) that my Radio Shack Voice Record Module order never went through online……D….m. After confirming this with customer service, had to place order over phone; online system was malfunctioning last night. Pricey shipping to get it by Friday or Sat. The ANYKIT module came in late last night, so I’ll look at that today.

Midterm Critique Presentation
Fortunately, I found myself thinking through this presentation due Week 7. Prepared a draft sketch. Very helpful to have this done for percolation purposes.

Week 4, Wearables Studio

Jacket MockUp in Progress

Swatch Book
[Scarf Photos to be inserted shortly]

Description
The “Listen Up Jacket” (a provisional name) provides a young girl the opportunity to express her opinions and feelings in real time using a recording device embedded in an article of clothing. By conveniently storing the device within the wearable, a sense of gesture and play will tap her imagination and others’ with whom she interacts. The jacket celebrates a young girl’s energy and affirms her identity by storing voice ephemera to mark her dance through the places and people in her life. Letting her play back familiar sounds before letting them go to make room for another batch, the jacket brings her daily passage into view. Like a friend, the jacket helps her listen to her own thoughts and keep at bay the temptations of distracting influences. Possible scenarios are described below.

User Testing
Of course, my goal is to find the garment style and physical computing design that elicits the most meaningful response from the intended user. Ideally, I would like feedback from a group of girls ranging in age from 10 to 14 at various stages during the development of the wearables prototype:

• Fashion/Style (by week of March 3): Collect initial rapid reactions to 25 images of jackets. What do and don’t the girls like style-wise? Click here for the Style Slides.
• Interaction Model (by week of March 3): After the girls have a chance to try on few prototype garments, what other feedback do they have to offer?
• Their Stories/Voices (early April): Collect stories about how the girls use fashion to communicate something about their self-identity. Images from mass media and online teen fashion sites might be used to prompt the conversation.

Scenarios:
The idea behind the ListenUp Jacket is to play off a range of behaviors commonly associated with young teenage girls. Thus the jacket conjures up many images. A girl commonly moves through this stage of life in ever-changing clusters. Chitter-chatting away, she and her friends come into their own and find their own voices. Other times, she walks alone reflecting on an idea, an experience, a person, herself. With something to say and no one to say it to but herself, she speaks into the recorder. All the more powerful is her choice to play this back to someone later. Or maybe she relies on the wired jacket while at the museum contemplating a painting she has been asked to write a paper about. Later, she gets more meaning out of the assignment using real-time thoughts to write the paper.

Contact:
Cynthia Hilmoe
315/439-2738
cdh263@nyu.edu
NYU Tisch School of the Arts,
Interactive Telecommunications Program
Masters in Professional Studies, 2009

Week 4, Wearables

Photos
Jacket MockUp in Progress
Component Placement 1
Component Placement 2
Component Placement 3
The Swatch Book

Materials: Main effort the earlier part of the week was nailing down materials.

(1) Garment: Spent some time in fashion district, local K-Mart and Chinatown looking for items to fill out my rack of potential garments for interim Interaction Model testing. I will use a set of scarfs to get feedback about the pompom interface. I finished up my swatch book with another visit to Mood Fabrics — Mood is very generous with the swatch scissors. Latter part of the week was spent finishing up the jacket prototype to use in my interim interactive model testing.

(2) Recorder/Playback Device: Consulted with classmates and others about possible components. Shopped around at Radio Shack Stores, D&J Electronics and Canal Street. Ordered some parts online. I hope one of the following will turn out to work.
- Olympus VN-4100, $40 (MAC compatible)
- AnyKit.com APR9600 Add-On Voice Module kit (60 sec),
- Radio Shack 9V Recording Module, Model: 276-1323, Catalog# 276-1323, $10.79
- Dr. Leonard’s Item 38293 My Lil’ Reminder™ one-touch digital recorder, 7.75

(3) Conductive Thread: I have some thread on hand, I think from Lame Lifesaver. Anyway, concerned that resistance might be in the 1000 ohm range, I decided to order additional options testing. Spark Fun Catalog: While not as conductive as traces on a printed circuit board (PCB), this thread makes wearable clothing ‘wearable’!
- Lame Lifesaver http://members.shaw.ca/ubik/thread/thread.html Thread is much stronger than domestic poly/cotton thread, and somewhat thicker. Site gives hint on using in sewing machine.
- Spark Fun http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8465
(a) Conductive Thread - 234/34 4ply, 14 Ohms per foot, hand sewing (thicker, lower resistance) SKU#: DEV-08549 Price: $16.95 This is a thicker thread with a lower resistance that can be used with hand sewing. Resistance is about 14 Ohms per foot. Spool contains 2.5oz of thread, about 670 yards.
(b) Conductive Thread - 117/17 2ply, 82 Ohms per foot, sewing machine, higher resistance. SKU#: DEV-08544 Price: $16.95 This is a finer thread that can be used in standard sewing machines. Resistance is about 82 Ohms per foot. Spool contains 1 oz of thread, about 1200 yards.
- LessEMF www.lessemf.com/specials.htmlConductive Thread, small spool (Cat. #A264) $16.95 per spool. Fine thread can be used in standard sewing machines. 150 Ohms per foot; 250 Ohms stretched. Spool: 1 oz of thread.

Interactive Model Testing: Hope to complete this today. I’ll need to cajole ITP classmates into pretending they are teenage girls. This feedback will help me narrow down my garment design options. Also, thought about and prepared an email to some folks about any associations they might have with groups of young girls who might be willing to participate in my user testing later on in the semester.

Circuitry Work: Had hoped to get working on circuitry this week. Rather than hacking into a $40 voice recorded, I decided to wait until I got the less expensive parts I ordered.

Elevator Pitch: Meanwhile, the elevator pitch continues to morph. The truth or meaning behind my impulse seems to be coming out little by little in the latest version:

The idea behind the ListenUp Jacket is to play off a range of behaviors commonly associated with young teenage girls. The jacket celebrates a young girl’s energy and affirms her voice by storing ephemera to mark her dance through the places and people in her life. Letting her play back familiar sounds before letting them go to make room for another batch, the jacket brings her daily passage into view. Thus the jacket conjures up many images. A girl commonly moves through this stage of life in ever-changing clusters. Chitter-chatting away, she and her friends come into their own and find their own voices. Other times, she walks alone reflecting on an idea, an experience, a person, herself. With something to say and no one to say it to but herself, she speaks into the recorder. All the more powerful is her choice to to play this back to someone later. Or maybe she relies on the wired jacket while at the museum contemplating a painting she has been asked to write a paper about. Later, she gets more meaning out of the assignment using real-time thoughts to write the paper. Like a friend, the jacket helps her affirm her own thoughts and keep at bay the temptations of distracting influences.

Week 4, Wearables Studio

IN-CLASS ONE-ON-ONE CONSULTATION with Despina and Zach

Priority Issues:
1) Nail Down Interaction Model: They made the point that my project deals in the real world vs. erformance (in which environment is controlled by the artist). Recommended that I return to the PomPom idea from last week. Thought the jacket cuff interaction would reduce interface to one of a record/playback device rather than a platform for the imagination and more meaningful events that I am looking for. TEST FOR PREFERRED MODEL NOW.

2) Nail down Materials list: For starters, get the record device set. Order Parts. Reintroduce the PomPom, Fabrics Swatch Book. The rest will follow.

3) Nail down circuitry: Start mocking up the circuitry with any old components.

MATERIALS SEARCH:
Conductive Thread: Resistivity Research

LESSONS LEARNED:
Real World vs. Performance Interface
The former requires much more rigorous testing of Interaction Model.
The latter permits performer wearing the wearable the luxury of creating their own environment (up to a point). Relatively speaking, more control of interface impact is in the hands of the maker.
Remember this when developing future task timelines. Are the sources of feedback ready, at-hand. How does access affect project progress.