NEURO KNITTING - by Mar Canet and Varvara Guljajeva

Neuro Knitting is a project that uses an interface that is becoming very popular inside the new media scene: a brain waves reader. I copy the description from their website:

" We have plotted brainwave activity into a knitted pattern. Using a wearable, non-invasive EEG headset, we recorded users’ affective states while listening to Bach’s “Goldberg Variations”, concretely the aria and its first seven variations. The audio was about 10 minutes long and we downsampled each second of the signal coming from the 14 channels of the EEG device. Three main features were measured: relaxation, excitement, and cognitive load.  After recording, those features were converted into a knitting pattern. Hence, every stitch of a pattern corresponds to a unique brain state stimulated by the act of listening. It means the user’s affective response to music is captured every second and memorised in the knitted garment pattern."

This is a nice example on how art can be combined with science and technology. The best thing about it is that the artists created an open source tool that gives a new brain to your knitting machine and makes projects like this one accesible to everyone. The project is called Knitic. 

How technology is changing the fashion show

The release of new technologies present us with new formats to convey information.

Fashion designers are aware of those transformations and are changing the way they present their works to the audience. it is common to present a new collection in a catwalk where models wear the creations and walk for pleasure of the people.

One of the first fashion designer to introduce technology in a innovative way in his presentation was Alexander McQueen. His shows are famous for its production that always include something original. To present the summer 1999 collection he used some robots interacting with the model. The result was a dramatic performance.

After that, McQueen amazed his public in the fall/winter 2006 collection presentation using a holographic projection of the super model Kate Moss.

Recentlly Hussein Chalayan decided to present his new collection only using video projection.

Following this trendy, the brazilian brand Ellus (www.ellus.com.br) presented their collection using 3d projection technology.

I am excited to see new visual effects on the presentations. There are many technologies that could delivery a dramatic effect that were not explored so far. I could mention some like augmented reality, motion tracking and interactive feed back with the audience for instance.

I am wondering: Are the real models becoming obsoletes?is the body not enough to represent the complexity that characterize our society and is reflected on the fashion world?

How new technologies are changing the creative process in fashion

The recent evolution of smart textiles and materials in general triggered designers' imagination and turned possible the creation of interactive and reactive clothes. Clothes can be equipped with electronic components like microcontrolers, small motors, led's, motion sensors and so on.

Technologic improvements also influence the conception of the clothing. Nowadays when a designer has an idea and start to draw it he can use digital and also generative tools to give form to his ideas. Here some exciting examples:

The brazilian brand Amapo gained notoriety after the singer M.I.A. used their pieces in a video clip. The designer duo uses 3D technology to create some of their their patterns. The result is volumetric pieces that delivers an interesting effect depending on the lights.

Another example is "Continuum", the latest project by Mary Huang. It allows anyone to "draw" a dress and convert it into a 3d model, which is turned into a flat pattern that can be cut out of fabric and sewn into the dress. The real dress can be bought via website or you can download the parts and sew it yourself. Tools like Continuum points the fashion creation towards digital customization.

Diana Eng released a set of scarves inspired by math and ethnology. She designed the patters based in mathematical functions and used several techniques to transfer the numbers into drawings.

Another technology that is rocking the fashion design is 3d print. 3d pinging is a technology where a tridimensional objected is created by laying down successive layers of material. This allows rapid prototyping and put down the costs of production.

this video describes the 3d print process pointing out the ecological potential of this technology due to the fact that the material can be totally recycled.

The dutch designer Iris Van Herpen is an example of 3d printing in fashion. In her last collection she created structured clothes that reminds shell shapes and fractals and share concepts of architecture and design.

Almost every day pop up projects and collections the make use of new technologies in their conception and realization and for sure we are going to see more exciting examples of how new technologies change creative processes.

Rambler

I am happy to announce my brand new project done with Tiago Martins.

Rambler.

Rambler is a pair of sneakers that senses every step you take and , due to an embedded sensing system, post its status on a twitter account.

More information at: http://www.popkalab.com/ramblershoes.html

studioroosegaarde

Hussein Chalayan for Puma Spring/Summer 2010 “Urban Mobility”

It was released the new work of Chalayan as a new creative director of PUMA called "urban mobility". Chalayan designed some clothes with extra functionality as a throuser with lots of pockets to make life in airport easier and a jacket that opens with a remote control.

keep your eyes open to what come next...

Hi from Multitouch Barcelona on Vimeo.

2019 by Microsoft

There is a nice video produced by microsoft where they explore some possibilities for the near future. 2019 to be exact. Many of these technologies are already developed but unfortunately only for prototypes.

Check it out clicking here!

New outstanding products

A firm based in Chicago made a research about what could be the technologies or products that you might see in the near future. One is this magnectic ink that has particles of iron in its composition that is responsible to magnets and also able to conduct electricity.

You can find the others amazing products on this website:
http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/research/4301621.html