Abstract

Figure skating is a sport renowned for its artistic nature, where elegance and artistic expression shine through every glide and step. The costumes worn by figure skaters are an integral part of their performances, adding to the visual spectacle and enhancing their artistic expression on the ice. In recent years, many skaters have explored the integration of figure skating with new media technology. For instance, Russian skater Anna Sherbakova incorporated LED lights into her costume sleeves during the 2022 Winter Olympics gala, while Japanese skater Yuzuru Hanyu wowed spectators with his incorporation of projection art. Inspired by these innovations, this project aims to explore the possibilities of incorporating interactive technology into figure skating costumes. The goal is to design an interactive costume that emits light, further enhancing the artistic aspects of figure skating. Because figure skaters themselves are like beams of light on ice, this project seeks to unleash their full artistic potential through innovative costume design.

Research

I researched traditional figure skating costumes, figure skating performances and similar projects that incorporate technology into performance costumes to find inspiration for my costume design. In exploring the control methods for the costume, I consulted various stakeholders, including figure skaters, costume designers, and audience members, to gather their perspectives and preferences regarding different control methods. Based on the research and feedback collected, I made the decision to focus on automatic control. It offers a better user experience, enhances the smoothness and coherence of the skating performance, and allows skaters to showcase their technical skills and artistic talents more effectively. In terms of technical research, the choice of materials was based on the traditional characteristics of figure skating costumes being lightweight and comfortable. After testing different components I chose the ones with compactness and lightness to ensure that the costume would not impede the skater's movement.

Technical Details

The technical implementation of this project involved using sewable LEDs, pre-wired SMD LEDs, NeoPixels, and EL wires to create various lighting effects. To simplify the interaction for the skater, an automatic triggering mechanism was chosen through an accelerometer-based system that allows the lights to dynamically respond to the skater's movements.