An emotional sensing necklace

[gallery]Philips Design is always exploring what our futures might look like through their dedicated "far-future" probes research that tracks trends and developments, which may evolve into mainstream issues that have a significant impact on business. The Probes generate insights from research in five main areas; politics, economic, culture, environments and technology futures. The results are quite evocative and generate a dialogue on the possibilities of our futures.

One of their design probes is VIBE - an emotional sensing necklace that combines conductive ink and textile sensors. The necklace can read multiple biometric signals of the wearer and communicates them to other devices and other wearers.

Most electronic communication is limited to very direct channels where we naturally exhibit many more signals or channel indirectly. This opens up a whole new universe of emotional applications, such as physical and emotional gaming, mind and stress control applications, as well as emotional telephony.

Continue reading on Philips Design. Images from Philips Design.

Nancy Tilbury infuses biological experiences into couture

Recently sent to me, Nancy Tilbury in collaboration with Visual Artists 125 Creative, has created a collection of incredibly evocative explorations that infuse biological experiences with couture. From digital cosmetics to couture that we cultivate, Tilbury visualizes what it would be like to wear living skins. 

"A Fashion Futures Film set in 2050. Couture becomes a biological experience, gowns are assembled by gas and nano-electronic-particles, where tailoring and cosmetics are constructed by 3D liquid formations, including swallowable technologies exciting the mind, body and soul through physical expression. It is a time when couture will be cultured and farmed as fashion facets of human flesh. A Fashion Futures Film to provoke...

This Film encompasses the work of Interdisciplinary Fashion Designer Nancy Tilbury and Visual Artists 125 Creative. It's narrative is formed in partnership with Philips Design, Probes Director Clive van Heerden as well as specialist concepts in the area of Living Skins with the Design for Need Expert Amanda Sleet." Continue reading on digitalskinsbodyatmospheres.

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Photos from vimeo from left to right: Cloud Gown, a dress made of gas and active nanoparts. E-Pannosa, an electrodynamic moisturiser. Ether Dress, a thinking dress activated by nanignation implants. Tendo Veluntos, swallowable couture. Abeo Eyes, electric eyes. Dynamic Varnish. Humanous Heels, cultured stilettos.

More on Nancy Tilbury.

Fractal: Living Jewelry by Philips

Philips Design has created yet another absolutely gorgeous wearable project for their Design Probes series called Fractal: Living Jewelry. Here's how they describe it:

"Fractal is a stunning, figure-hugging outfit consisting entirely of huge imitation jewels augmented by pulsing LEDs. By incorporating sensors that measure movement, excitement levels and proximity of others - and using this input to alter the intensity of its integrated lighting - Fractal essentially becomes an extension of the body. It also serves as a platform for exploring emotional sensing. Unlike a cut and sewn garment, Fractal is made using product materials and processes. This opens up the possibility of ‘Hybrid’ forms and new functionalities in the search for solutions in the spaces of traditional apparel functionality - thermal protection, structure and support, water resistance, providing modesty, flesh control, and the ever-changing style calendars."

The geometric aesthetics makes me think of Mashallah Design and Linda Kostowski's digitally printed fashion, which I posted a couple months ago. The garments use an unfolding polygon method to generate the textile patterns.

Additional design probes from Philips include the beautiful Bubelle Blush dress and probes that explore the skin as the electronic platform.

Bubelle blush dress reacts to emotions

Philips design probe program has created a variety of projects under the theme SKIN. The concept behind these experimental garments is to investigate the expression of emotion and personality through reactive wearable technology. The futuristic garments "show emotive technology and how the body and the near environment can use pattern and color change to interact and predict the emotional state" of the wearer. 

One of my favorite dresses is the gorgeous Bubelle Blush Dress, which uses biometric sensing technology that senses your emotions on its inner layer and projects them onto the outer layer. The result is a beautiful dress that illuminates light patterns within its textiles and reacts differently to every individual.

source via popgadget, we make money not art

Skin as the electronic platform

Philips Design has a series of projects that explore the body and skin as the platform for electronics. One of the project called SkinTiles by Lucy McRae, consists of electronic sensing jewelry that adheres directly to the skin. As described by Philips, "It is a new genre of product; a generation of wireless, stick-on body sensors that re-define traditional body adornment."

In another project called Skin:Tattoo, the technology is directly integrated into the skin to form a reactive tattoo. The tattoo responds to touch, which changes and morphs the shape and design. Together, the projects make a statement on the sensuality and intimate aspect of technology that we wear as our second skin, and in this case, as our skin itself. They also explore an implementation of technology that is directly integrated into the aesthetics of our own bodies.