Inspired by the phrase, That gave me goosebumps. Did you feel it too? The AWElectric is a duet design that animates the emotionally charged goosebumps, amplifies them, and shares the thrill.
The AWElectric animates awe – the mix of fear and wonder that provokes emotionally based goosebumps. This feeling is often achieved from vast views of nature, music, or the ah-ha moment. A recent study at UC Berkeley associates good health with the feeling of Awe and goosebumps. That goose-bumpy mix of fear and wonder appears to be particularly good for the body. It is reported that 40% of the population does not feel this sensation. As the AWElectric enhances healthy feeling of awe in the wearer and shares with another, this wearable interaction has the potential to teach new behaviors.
AWElectric is bioresponsive design that exhibits the feeling of awe with extimacy – externalized intimacy. First, a series of biosensors monitors the sensation of awe. Then, the feeling is animated with 3d print Goosebump Fractal fabric that inflates and flickers. Also in the partner design, AudioTactile – conductive embroidered “speaker” fabric – plays the low frequency hum to evoke goosebumps.
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Goosebump Fractals
SENSOREE has developed a new technique of 3d print fabric showcased by the AWElectric design. Inspired by the human body that requires connective tissue between bones, this fabric has joint material between the solid 3d prints. Thus, the fabric mimics the bodies articulations, movements, and expressions.
The hexagon construction of the Goosebump Fractals are digital representations of skin cells, inspired by Buckminster Fuller’s Geodesic domes and the machine gesture of polygons. The 3d print design covers a silicone inflatable and expands with the emotional peak. The inflation opens the hexagon spike into 6 triangles to animate the hair follicles.
The AudioTactile fabric is a set of conductive embroidered speakers that plays the frequency of goosebumps to tickle the skin and evoke the sensation of excitement.
Models Ernest Kahn, Kelsy Hiyakumoto
MU Eindhoven, Netherlands 27 November 2015 – 7 February 2016.
Makezine. Photography by Hep Svadja.
