Informal user testing for fabric trigger prototypes

Recently I have been able to give out the fabric triggers to a few test users for an informal experience and feedback collection.

The users were given a fabric prototype to keep for a few days in their homes. There were also given a scribble pad with a few questions to record their thoughts and ideas and were asked to take photographs of where and how they tried to use these fabric triggers.

This process has been extremely interesting and insightful. I will soon share more findings and user feedback on this blog.

Soft button-cell holders

Small 3V button-cell holders made with felt and conductive thread. They are small in size and easy to sew on. Good for lighting a LED. Can use have 2 batteries stacked inside for a 6V output.

Check out the “Making of” tab for step by step process for making these.

Disk-knitting with the knitting machine

The idea is to knit wedges around the same needle by reducing and increasing stitches. The last wedge can be knitted together with the first to get a nice circular disk.

I think this could be a nice way to mount LEDs and button batteries.

Materials: Conductive Yarns

Testing the conductivity of different yarns that I will be using for my projects.

The multimeter shows resistance value for 50cm of thread.

bekinox steelfibre yarn

 

 

 

Schoeller nm50/2

 

Satex 01

Statex 02

Bekinox twisted

Starting to prototype

Started with getting re-familiar with the knitting machine. The knitting studio in the textile dept. (7th floor) is a nice work-space with a number of silver reed home knitting machines. I made some small knitted samples of different thickness wool.

knitting studio

my knitting station

Visit to Design Factory Knitting Studio

Had a very encouraging meeting with Raija Jokinen, lecturer from textile dept. about my thesis idea to work with electronic textiles. I would be using the knitting studio in the textile dept. to work on my prototypes. I look forward to further collaboration between the media lab and textile dept. student projects.

It was also great to know that there is an industrial knitting machine in Design factory- Otaniemi campus – fully programmable and for students to use! I visited there yesterday. Thanks to Anna Leinonen who showed me around and gave a basic intro.

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The machine surely is great! and if you have a great idea you can mass produce your design:)