This garment is both temperature and pressure sensitive.
When touched, it changes color. After touching the blue design, a heat element is activated. The blue thermochromic pigment turns pink due to its temperature sensitivity. The texture gives the illusion that it merges with the skin when touched, giving it a human character.
This ensemble is a work in progress. The garment converts touch into LED light. There are wireless LEDs embedded in the blue silicone studs. The LEDs light up when they come near an inductor. The inductor creates a magnetic field, so the LEDs do not need direct current. This works within a 5 cm radius. The inductor is incorporated into a glove or a piece of jewelry. In this way, the LEDs light up when they come close to the glove or jewel and the touch takes on both a tactile and visual dimension. The LEDs can change color depending on where the user wants to be touched or not. A spot where the touch is desired will be colored blue. While a spot where the user does not like to be touched is given a red color.
Like the thermochrome top, this LED ensemble aims to provoke social touch through an added visual dimension.
The sound corset converts touch to sound. It is embedded with conductive wires that serve as sensors for detecting touch.
The auditory feedback encourages users to touch each other more. The different sounds make them curious. Because each individual experiences touch differently, I explore how the user can set their own boundaries. In this case, I do so by giving each part of the garment a different sound. The sounds can be personalized via a cell phone or computer. If there are body parts that should not be touched, one can choose to set an unpleasant sound for that particular part of the body or simply not add any sound. To avoid cross-border touching, I chose not to make the chest area audio-reactive.
The interactive dance floor makes music when two people touch. It is covered with copper tape, which makes it a perfect conductor. Dance will be used as a tool to explore the interactive floor. In doing so, I want to investigate whether dance can stimulate new ways of touching. This installation was also part of the Ithaka arts festival.
People could test it out using these instructions:
1. Choose one or more partners to start. The installation will not work if you are alone.
2. For it to work effectively, you need to take off both your shoes and socks. There should always be one body part in contact with the copper tape. If you are not comfortable with this, you may always sit on the copper tape and use your hands instead of your feet.
3. Each participant stands or sits on their part of the floor.
4. There should always be a minimum of one foot or hand per person touching the copper tape. Do not step on the other person's part.5. Touch each other. If you have one hand on the tape, use your other hand to touch with.
5. Touch each other. If you have one hand on the tape, use your other hand to touch with.
