MARCO RIGHETTO
Interaction Designer
Aura
aura
Aura is a set of wearable devices for expecting couples: a dress and a bracelet. It let them explore the limits in communication, privacy and intimacy in a tangible way.
You can have a look to the abstract (English and Italian) and to the full report (Italian only).
concept
ABSTRACT
Aura is a set of wearable devices that enables non-verbal communication between expecting parents. The project aims to explore alternative ways of communicating beyond what current screen-based services offer: in particular, to extend current applications of biometric monitoring beyond the fields where it is currently most used - medicine and sports. The project is inspired by the ‘critical design’ approach, but does not occupy its most provocative side. It focuses on potential users’ needs and desires, leaving room for imagination. To achieve this, potential users and medical staff were interviewed initially. It was then decided to design a service embodied in two physical objects: a garment for the expectant mother and a bracelet for her partner. Foetal movement is translated into a light message for the mother-to-be and a haptic one for her partner. The simultaneous connection of the two people enhances the emotional ‘messages’ transmitted by the devices. The relationship is participatory, and the actions of both partners shape the ‘conversation’.
USERS
The project is adressed to expectant mothers from the 25th week of pregnancy and their partners. Particularly I focused on the concept of distance. First of all, a time-space distance. In this framework, the project is mainly addressed to couples who travel quite frequently either because they commute or for short period of time, like three to five days. Beyond a spacial distance between the two people, it was unveiled a gap dealing with the emotional and perceptive side. Aura aims to let people explore that gap in order to discover different ways of communication and connection.
STAKEHOLDERS
People that could potentially be involved by the project mainly are: fashion and clothing industries, physicians, obstetricians and gynecologists, antenatal classes, online and retail clothing selling points, expectant parents’ relatives and friends.
SCOPE AND MOTIVATION
The project’s motivations can deploy in three main axes: physicality, evocative communication and aesthetic experience, and aternative uses for biometrical monitoring.
physicality
Since the beginning of the project, I was interested in how bodies can provide data and how those data can be interpreted to provide rational and emotional knowledge. Moreover, I was interested in designing and developing devices which interactions take place in a physical way, rather than on screen. Therefore the choice of wearable devices was the most interesting for me.
aternative uses for biometrical monitoring
From the premise of physicality, I was interested in designing and developing a project in which the data gathered from the body could provide a more emotionally meaningful experience for the users. Therefore, I believed that there could be new opportunities for biometrical monitoring, which could go beyond current applications, mainly for medical and sport fields.
evocative communication and aesthetic experience
The main goal of the project was to explore which possibilities emerging technologies can provide when interpreted through the process of design. More specifically, I was interested in designing devices and services which were focused on the emotional side of communication. This is the reason why blurred, and slightly ambiguous designs, especially in terms of interactions, were the most appropriate for this project. In this way it is possible for the users to explore several nuances of emotions, being emotionally and physically involved in the creation of meaning for thier communications.
research
THEORETICAL RESEARCH
In terms of design theory, the project is inspired by the Critical Design approach. In this sense the project tries to reach an aesthetic experience in order to provide a “material tale” as an alterntative the assumption that “rationality and reality have become synonyms in an industrial society”.
Aura explores an evocative communication and interactions between reality and immagination. Particularly, driven by a poetic attitude, the project uses ambiguity as a design tool. In this way, it was possible to provide an experience that is “intriguing, mysterious and delightful”.
PHYSIOLOGY RESEARCH
Even if the main aim of the project has never been related to mere medical issues, collaborating with medical staff was particularly helpful in two ways. On the one hand, I realized which kind of products and services are currently on the market and which kind of needs they are design for. On the other hand, I was able to explore what psychological and emotional aspects of the pregnancy experience that are not commonly addressed in medical facilities right now. I want to thank Dr. Sante Tosetto, chief of the obstetrics and gynecology department in Castelfranco Veneto - near Venice - hospital.
USER RESEARCH
In order to unveil possible latent demands, I dedicated part of the project to the user research. The methods used integrated field research with desk research in the sociology of pregnancy.
The field research involved participatory interviews with couples of expectant parents from Spain, Italy, and South Africa. All potential users were in their 30s and provided narratives of their experience, feeling and emotions during the process of pregnancy. In some cases it was also possible use cultural probes (photos and diary) as a mean to understand routines during a week time.
design
THE DRESS
The concept that led the design process was to enhance an espolorative and evocative communication within the couple, set in an everyday experience.
The dress was concieved in order to provide a comfortable and engaging experience during pregnancy. The design includes two stretchable elements: the first beyond the breast, that welcome the growing morphology of the pregnant woman; the second on the lower abdomen in order to provide comfort and support to the belly.
The display is made out of silk, so that the lights are diffused and evoke a more subtle communication. Moreover, it is sew on the top and bottom parts, while the sides are open: in this way the mother can have a more intimate, seamless and warm perception with her body.
The display is made out of silk, so that the lights are diffused and evoke a more subtle communication. Moreover, it is sew on the top and bottom parts, while the sides are open: in this way the mother can have a more intimate, seamless and warm perception with her body.
ALTERNATIVES
The concept of the dress was embodies in an actual prototype, which takes also the role of an archetype for other possible declinations. All of them share the same interactions as the prototype, but shapes and materials they would be made of inscribe them in different the contexts of use. Particularly I imagined four more possibilities.
The polo would be made of jersey cotton integrated with electroluminescent wires.
This little dress integrates the display element as a belt.
A cocktail dress integrated with Luminex.
A jeans salopette integrated with Luminex
THE BRACELET
The bracelet for the partener is made of white silicon rubber in which are integrated two micro vibration motors. The shape of the bracelet is made in order to provide a clear indication of where the motors are placed. Additionaly, the object is provided of a temperature sensor that activates the bracelet only when it is worn, and a force sensor used in order to sense the responsive touch of the partner.
interactions
The results of the user research brought to two interesting results. The first one is the lack of possibilities in an physical communication between partners, especially regarding the modification of the female body. The second is how the pregnant body communicates to people just with its presence. Therefore there is a “spectacle” of the pregnant body, that might embarass pregnant women. This means that the types of communications involved cross the border of private and public.
The design choice was to provide a mean to re-empower the woman through a enhanced role in this “spectacle”, and at the same time to cast a public sign in a private code. The video aside explains how the interactions between the partners work.
The following flowchart provides a global overview on how the interactions develop.
On the technical side, the interactions are possible thanks to an internet connection provided by small antennas embedded in the devices. The amount of data they send and recieve is magnitudes lower than a standard home wifi connection.
prototypes and users' feedback
DRESS PROTOTYPE
Two semifunctioning prototypes of the devices were relized. Textile force sensors were integrated in order to let the mother caress her belly and light up the dress thanks to the LEDs integrated in the silk display. The behaviours were managed by an Arduino board, to CD4051multiplexers, and one TLC5940 led driver.
Early experiments with pushbuttons and breadboards
Textile force sensors
BRACELET PROTOTYPE
The bracelet was made thanks to casting with silicon rubber in which the vibromotors were integrated.
USERS’ FEEDBACK
Thanks to the actual prototypes and the videoscenario, it was possible to test them with users. I went to an antenatal class of the association Mamiu in Padova (Italy). The results were quite inspiring…
design process
The final designs come from several iterations and polishments. The image below summarize very brifly the proccess the project followed. For a more detailed path please download the presentation, here.
code
The behaviours of the two devices were managed by Arduino code. The whole program is managed by three cases in a main switch. The most interesting challenges in coding were:
• managing multiplexers and LED drivers;
• providing a smooth continuity during the different actions;
• modulate properly motor’s vibrations.
You can see how these different issues were solved and find the code here. For any questions please contact me.
downloads
The report [7.2 MB]
Video scenario [225.9 MB]
Interactions video [18.9 MB]
Design process and development [27.2 MB]
Arduino code [<1MB]
media coverage
The project has been reviewed in
fashioning technology
semageek
think magazine
trendsupdates
dustbowl
inhabitots