Overview
“Fashion is play, with the most profound of human questions: Who am I?” -Roland Barthes
It is an innate human desire to play with and craft our appearance. With the miniaturization of electronic devices, technology has become a new material with which to craft and alter our appearances.
Cindy Hsin-Liu Kao’s research practice rethinks the convergence of function and aesthetics on the skin. While most wearable technology looks into the future, Hybrid Body Craft builds upon existing habitual practices of decorating, ornamenting our bodies, and elegantly integrates technology to extend their purpose beyond decoration and into user interaction.
This talk will present two examples: DuoSkin, a functional, stylish on-skin interface that resembles metallic temporary tattoos; and NailO, a fingernail mounted trackpad that doubles as a nail art sticker.
While the newest technology of today will become obsolete tomorrow, craft is passed on and lives on throughout generations. How can we create wearable technology as a form of craft? Can it be customized to evolve with the wearer’s identity, while also celebrating the personalization of individual style?
Objective
How can we build upon existing practices of decorating the body to create on-skin interfaces?
Target Audience
Those curious about our cyborg future.
Five Things Audience Members Will Learn
- Emerging space of on-skin interfaces
- Rapid prototyping processes for wearables
- The intersection of function and aesthetics on the skin
- Ways to make on-skin interfaces less “scary” and more playful and acceptable
- Street fashion as inspiration for technology
