Fashionable Technology ::: Connections

Commentary on Projects

Alan's - Interesting project idea. I think it's a great idea for those of use that are especially vulnerable... (ie women coming home late at night alone) I like the way Alan said we are exposed to the "depraved and the scum of the earth on a daily basis" in order to set up the marketing to the potential user. My concerns for the project is that the wearer may get either too hot in the outfit or might get shocked.

Ariele's - I like the conceptual idea of her project but would be concerned about how long the bathing suit would glow and how functional it might be. Luminex might be a problem if the wearer wanted to go swimming... or so I would imagine. The website/blog might need to be pulled together to create a marketable look and feel, assuming she were to market it beyond the class.

Elenora's - Another more conceptual project, it would be great to have something like this to be worn around the city but would leave the city even more lonely than it already is. I really like the idea and think she has a great handle on the direction of the project.

Jason's - I really like this project's idea and think it's well put together. Jason has a clear idea and focus on the project.

Leonardo & Olivia's - I have enjoyed watching this project develop. Otherwise I can't say much about it... I can't find thier site on the blog. But it looks very interesting... and I look forward to seeing the conceptual idea develop into a product.

Tom's - I think this idea but am not sure how it is supposed to relieve stress. Depending on the range of the product and the ability to block unwanted users, there could be potential problems. Such as a woman being hit on by someone she is not interested in through the friend finder. Otherwise, in a club atmosphere, this could be a lot of fun to play with.

Website.

Surveillance killer's blog

More info on the way.

Leonardo.

Project Comments

Ariele; I think your idea is really cool. It would be something I imagine seeing on a really crazy beach party, something slightly out of the ordinary, something exclusive like a special event. It could be used as advertising, and it would definitely add some light to the features of the wearer, which may or may not be an issue depending on the beer goggles.

Jason; I liked your presentation and concept of your project. It would be amazing if the shoe worked in the context of a marathon, where you could help the runner but also display all their statistics in an graphical way, using real information to represent a virtual environment.

Elenora; I agree with Ariele that it would be really interesting to see what would happen if your were to test it in a real environment. I can relate to your project as sometimes I really feel that I need my own private space just to chill for a moment or two. I just imagine looking rather bizarre, seeing people on the street just covering themselves. I agree with Alan that a similar concept would fly in Asia.

Alan; I could see this working in the back streets of Mong Kok, 3am, neon lights, dai pi dong. It would definitely help protect the prostitutes. I am not to sure about other wearers, maybe women in abusive environments such as guards in a jail.

Leo and Olivia; I liked the idea of EMP, but glad you decided to drop it cause I could see the dark side. I believe that you are on track, creating something similar to McQueen and the readings. You are also raising some interesting questions on the subject of public and private space. Good luck.

Renata; I remember seeing the NASA space suit of the 60's at the Extreme Textiles exhibit, I envision your final deliverable to be of this nature but in a miniaturized form. I wonder what implications this concept will have in the future, when pondering the effects of global warming.

projects

Ariele: I think your website works well. I'm really curious to see what the bikini will look like both aesthetically and functionally. I know a couple of people that would certainly buy it! Alan: website is fine, very clear, I really don't think u need anything else (as in flash). Your project is a big challange. Jason: very nice website and concept. I think you are going for something really complicated, as in functionally, though your website is clear and friendly. I agree on the ferrai look that Alan pulled out. Leo and Olivia: Really interesting concept and solution. I think you guys did a very good job on your last decision of the hood. can't wait to see what it looks like. Renata: Your project is very specific as in target and audience which I think is something good.At the same time the idea of a cooling system is something that is on everybodies mind in the summer and I think it would be cool to apply it to different context and environments. Tom: Your idea is interesting and fun. It certainly is one of those gadjets that could go on the market. The only thing about the website could be that it doesn't communicate the same motif of the bracelet.. maybe you could work on that. But otherwise I think all the info is on, so its fine.

Projects.

Elenora's prjct.
It is good she is prototyping now. The concept is evolving fast and that is giving her a lot of insight, which is really good for all her and for us as class mates.

Alan's prjct.
For me it is a project aiming at a thing I don't share as a concept. The "shocking people" perspective freaks me out right away, I rather think of projects heading the opposite way, instead of attacking someone (whoever that person is) problems shoud be treated from the communities themselves, and not through single acts of aggression. But the fact that I don't share the purpose of the project does not imply I am not interested in it, I'm looking forward to see where this project goes.

Jason's prjct.
He is getting into really technical things, and it's easy to read his background in his project, and that I like very much, he is not letting go his product-designer's skills. I feel though the product itself is blurry as a product yet, because he is focusing in the technology first, but that's easy to understand, developing a shoe takes more than six months of work even for a whole team of developers. I hope he is going to be able to finish the prototype, it'd be awesome.

Ariele's prjct.
It's not clear to me how is she developing the design itself, I have heard "I am doing this" but I have not heard "I am doing this because of that" kind of thing, as I see it, a designer should make decisions supported on intentions, but I have the feeling she is self-related, and that has been making me thing a lot about the design process itself, perhaps that is a valid approach to designing things, I have never thought of that before. It's is a very industrialized-country type of approach, we don't do things like that in mine. I am expecting a lot from this project.

Tom's prjct.
It is a bracelet!!!!!!! I am wondering how is he going to make it work!!!! Such a challenge!!! Hope it all turns out to be well.

Renata's prjct.
She needs to make quick decisions, otherwise the project is going to wander around, the idea of keeping the body cool is an excellent one, but the approach has had too many things, narrow the project and make prototypes quickly!!! That's the best way to test what she wants, if it doesn't work, at least she tested something, and we all can learn from that, if it works, she's got a product to sell.

Our prjct.
Doing well, thank you. :)

Yahoo Video Article

There is a CNN video article on Yahoo news today (Wednesday, Nov 30th) -- unfortunately, I cannot open it... it has to do with Smart Garments getting solar panels. If anyone can open the Yahoo streaming video from CNN, that would be great.

Best

Alan

Comments on other projects

I liked the presentation on Elenora's project site.  It was very fun to navigate.  I also liked the idea very much since it did not involve any electronics.  I wished that I thought of something like that.  what I liked most about it is the usability of her idea... I know that in the Far East, a lot of women may be interested in something like that, in order to block out the sun and pollution from their skin.  I also liked Jason's project site.  It has a very Ferrari-like feeling, with the color scheme and the nature of the subject, which is related to speed.  I also found Renata's project site very informative, in regards to her project.  The only unfortunate thing is that I feel detached from her project owing to her chosen subject of a medieval period piece.  But as a coolant device for specialized function, I find it very interesting.  Other than that, I found the blogger type project sites difficult to navigate (I'm having problem loading some of the pictures).  I've since tried to update my site.  I cannot use Flash, so it's not very interesting, but I hope that it will be easier to navigate.  It's taken me the holidays to clean it up.

comments

I really like Elenora's project. I'm very interested to see how it actually works out . I think it will be a lot of fun to test it out on the streets and to see peoples' reactions to it.  I'm also interested in the method she will use to keep it up or let it down

I'm very confused when it comes to Leo and Olivia's project.  Their project sounds very interesting, but I didn't quite understand how they came to the black leather conclusion and I'm not sure how that connects to their project whatsoever. 

Jason's project is great.  I think that it has a real marketable purpose.  I think that if he gets his sneakers to actually work it owuld be a great and useful product.

Alan's project, to be honest scares me a little.  I'm not really sure how it will all come together.  He needs to give more thought to the actual workings of the coat.  I was confused by how the coat or the perosn wearing it would get shocked or decide  when to shock the attacker.  Whatever I think , from the last time Alan talked baout it he was making decisions and headed in the right direction

Tom. I really like the bracelet idea.. it, like my own porject is really for entertainment.  it's not relly helping anyone in a big way,  If it was marketed i see it more as a cool thing to have, just to have it, almost a fashion statement.  I'm really excited to see it working though. Everyone could use a fun new toy.

Renata's project has jumped aorund a lot. In the beginning of the semester i htough it would be another bodysuit type thing to wear under a costume.  I'm not sure sewing in a patch of cloth that can stay wet really makes sense, maybe if it was removable or since it will be concentraed on the wrists perhaps it could be a bracelet, but what would people spend money on this when they could just wet a washcloth. it seems to have the same effect.  But maybe I'm wrong. 

anwyays i'm very excited to se how all the pojects turn up

-ariele

Class 10: Links/Electronic Parts

Here are some places to order/find electronic parts:

www.sparkfun.com  

http://www.rentron.com 

http://www.mouser.com/

http://www.goldmine-elec.com

http://www.digikey.com/

http://www.allelectronics.com/

Link to Project Blog

http://a.parsons.edu/~jhare/intro.html