Concept
PRCPT is a concept for a “Smart Hub” device, which acts as a central processing and communication hub for the network of smaller wearable devices located around a user’s body. This assignment was undertaken as part of a university course that examined physiological design, in the context of far-future wearable devices.
Development
I became interested in emerging research into the use of haptic feedback for expanded sensory experiences. This research found that with proximity sensors connected to haptic feedback vests, people with impaired vision were capable of rapidly developing personal sensory experiences in connection to the hardware. These people were then able to navigate rooms and obstacle courses that they had never experienced before, and when interviewed afterwards, explained the new sensory experiences as a form of “sight”. One paper then proposed that this technology could also be used to give people sensory feedback in relation to expanded sensory capabilities, such as infrared wavelengths and magnetic fields.
I used this proposal as a conceptual base for my futuristic wearable technology, and designed a shoulder-interfacing collar that served as a conduit device for peripheral wearable sensors on a user’s body. The device would manipulate haptic and auditory stimulation to transcribe information from wearable sensors into distinct sensory experiences, while also allowing for distributed processing for the peripheral sensors, thus allowing for smaller and lighter form factors.
This was my first foray into physiological design. Development for this project involved 3D scanning, movement studies, and physical model validation.