Soft Circuit will cover basics of wearable technology. Workshop participants will be given a historical overview of wearables in the context of fashion, art, and technology. Instructor Grace Kim will share basic sewing and embroidery techniques and tips on how to repurpose everyday sewing procedure for use in wearables projects. Students will be given project-based instruction on basic circuitry and will construct soft circuits using conductive thread and fabric. No prior experience with electronics or sewing required. All materials and fees are included. Limited space available.
Soft Circuit will cover basics of wearable technology
Soft Circuit Workshop
Day One:
History and context
Measuring energy
Creating a circuit on a breadboard
Soft circuit basics
Embroidery basics
Introduction to switches (including how to turn everyday sewing notions into switches)
Workshop time: make an LED wristband
Assignment: prototype a concept of an exaggerated sense
Day Two:
Class presentations
Introduction to resistance (including how to use a multimeter)
Introduction to sensors
Workshop time: make a tote bag that lights up when your cell phone receives an incoming call
(students may not be able to complete the full project in this time. Rather the assignment would be that the student finishes the project on their own time, or extra workshop time will be delegated in the next class)
Assignment: prototype a concept of the electronic gesture
Day Three:
Class presentations
Demonstration of advanced materials (different types of conductive fabric, felt resistors, LED-integrated fabric, el paper)
Demonstration of LIilypad and other microcontrollers.
Demonstration of advanced sensors (accelerometer, etc)
Battery management
Looking for components in unexpected places: hacking old electronics and toys
Workshop time: perhaps finish tote bag or workshop future project ideas with students
