http://home.snafu.de/maubrey/

Thanks for the connection, CL!

Thinking more thoroughly into the categories of research I will be getting into: I’ve put together a Venn diagram of my pieces I have created, help create, and/or researched as precedents to projects in my prior projects. The three categories I find myself become more and more interested in are: wearable technology, interactive instruments and performance culture.

Wearable technology is a form I have felt most intrigued by since the first semester of my year at Parsons when I signed up for Fashionable Technology. I quite like the idea of experimenting with electronics that can become a part of one’s everyday life, just as easily as a piece of clothing can be. Plus, it’s a form of self-expression and identity, as much as fashion is in general.

Interactive instruments is a realm that I have only recently gained interest in. It started with taking a Max/MSP class and playing with the wii mote to control music. It felt fun, free, and again…self-expressive. This past summer, I have been working with LEMURbots, building various parts and pieces of musical instruments triggered by micro controllers and Max/MSP patches…all that go over my head. But at least I know how one can do it. That this exists.

And lastly, I have always seemed to be attracted to the stage throughout my projects. I really enjoy elements of performance art. From researching on Happenings, to working on tutus for ballets on stage… and even creating an installation inspired by yoga and tai chi.

After speaking with Colleen in regard to my thesis idea, we came up with a set of questions that I will be thinking about as I progress with thesis.

1. What kinds of shoulder shakin’ styles are there in dance? What IS it about shoulder pads that gives the idea such an attraction?

2. What are the design criteria for the object, or the idea itself? What is its role and who is the audience?

3. What are your interests that relate to your thesis idea?

4. What do you NOT want to create? Do you want a musical instrument that needs alot of skill to play? Why or why not?

5. Research precedents. What are opposite projects? What can break this project away from the categories that the others are placed in?

6. The tackiness. Who else is tacky? What is it about the tackiness that we enjoy?

7. What else can be created beside the shoulder pad?

8. How can I make this every year or every 20 years?

I have been thinking about incorporating the idea of shoulder pads into an interactive instrument. The idea came from a project I had started in max/msp…

Seeing how the wii mote controlled amplitudes and frequencies, I thought it appropriate to see how the control would work were it placed in other places of the body. And how the body would be able to read or work around this. I started thinking of places were lots of movement of up/down, front/back were incorporated. And all I could think of was:

And how fun “hammer time” could be.

I then started research on wearable technologies, and projects which have incorporated shoulder pads in their research.

Reinterpretations of the wii-mote.

Summer time/intern time. Whilst at Creative Time and at LEMUR, I became absolutely inspired by interactive instruments. What intrigues me most is the dynamic of musician and audience changes. In general forms of music playing, the person engaging with the instrument was presumed to have a knowledge, skill or craft of the instrument. In these pieces, it feels more like intuition. I also enjoy the fact that the lines between musician and audience are quite blurred.

Midterm Paper:

cognizance2

Final Paper:

a_hussaininteractive1

Prototype #1:

Prototype #2:

Final Prototype:

SO. PROBLEM.

• My boyfriend wants to watch an action film,
• I’m looking for more foreign a bit “indie”?!

PROBLEM PROGRESSES

• I have a group meeting at 3.
• He wants to run at 12. The movie starts at 2:15.

When will our schedules, our tastes, and the theater ever manage?! Can’t the theater run on OUR schedule! Can’t we all choose our own? This is so UN-tivo.

SOLUTION {title tentative for change} Lensible. Glasses/ lens’ that are sensible to your needs.

Lensibles still provide you with a theater experience. But it gives a more personalized approach.

Here’s how it works:

1. Place shades on. The shades read the programmed pixels for the movie you programmed to watch.
2. Watch desired movie onto a screen. Start and stop as desired. Volume capatible.
3. Friend/friends sitting next to you have the option of either watching with you or watching an entirely different movie.

AND
4. Oh wait, you don’t look ugly. The glasses are designed by designers such as Marc Jacobs, Tom Ford, etc. to give more of an aesthetic appeal to the wearable. Think successful product design (i.e. Apple).

Problem solved.

Design inspiration: As always, space-age fashion trends.

Guidelines: from the article, Designing for Wearability by a bunch of people such as: Francine Gemperle, Chris Kasabach, John Stivoric, Malcolm Bauer, Richard Martin.

1. Placement (where would it go)
2. form language (defining the shape)
3. Human movement (consider the dynamic structure)
4. Proxemics (human perception of space)
5. Sizing (for body size diversity)
6. Attachment (fixing forms to body)
7.Containment (considering what’s inside the form)
8. Weight (as it spread across the human body)
9. Accessibility (physical access to the forms)
10. Sensory Interaction (for passive or active input)
11. Thermal (issues of heat next to the body)
12. Aesthetics (perceptual appropriateness)
13. Long term use (effect on the body and mind)

HOT.HOT.HOT.HOT.

ivillage fashion review

Balenciaga

y-3

United Nude

Precedence: (to remind us how FUgly these things can get.)

iTheater: this product allows you to watch tv while on the go. You can play games, watch tv while on the plane, etc. Problem is this does not feel organic to the fashion accessories of mainstream and high-end rules.

iTheater: flaw: you look like an idiot.

iPod video goggles: flaw: too small and you squint and squeeze like crazy for your eyes to even visibly comprehend what’s going on.

Tagged in Motion: no flaw, it’s brilliant! how glasses can individualize vision:

Design:

Possible questions/hurdles:

• What about the theater experience?! Does it wither away?
• Will they be cost-efficient?
• Mechanics? — LEDs? pixel readings?
• Issues of space and time? (much like installations, Happenings, other ’stage performers’
• Quality of sound?