E-textiles and Wearable Technologies Britt Gow, 2016 Twitter: @brittgow Email: brittgow@gmail.com http://stem.global2.vic.edu.au
etextilesand Wearable Technologies etextilesare innovative textile materials that incorporate conductive fibresor digital elements into the design. It can involve the use conductive thread, fabric, tape and/or paint to connect computer components such as a micro-controller, LEDs, sensors and batteries. In this session, participants will make an electronic broach to showcase how sewing and digital electronics can bring students into the maker movement and explore new materials.
https://www.newscientist.com/article/ 2109944-roaming-fashion-robotskeep-busy-doing-odd-jobs-on-yourclothes/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5 C4njOzxHOQ
Examples of wearable technologies Clothing and accessories with integrated circuits, such as. FitBits, light-up shoes, GPS in AFL, smart watches Smart helmets that monitor heart-rate etc Boxing gloves that track performance Backpacks with inbuilt solar panels LEDs and sensors on your fingernails
Apple Watch
FitBit
Google Glass
Heated electric jacket
Bike safety gloves
LED gloves
Light-up shoes
Illuminated clothing
Designer gown with 30 battery packs to illuminate the fabric
LilyPadArduino
LilyPadArduino
How does it fit with the Victorian Curriculum? Year 5/6 Physical Science and Design and Technologies Year 7/8 Physical Science and Design and Technologies
Year 5/6 Science Understanding Physical Sciences Light from a source forms shadows and can be absorbed, reflected and refracted (VCSSU080) Energy from a variety of sources can be used to generate electricity; electric circuits enable this energy to be transferred to another place and then to be transformed into another form of energy (VCSSU081)
Year 5/6 Design and Technologies Investigate how forces or electrical energy can control movement, sound or light in a designed product or system (VCDSTC034) Investigate characteristics and properties of a range of materials, systems, components, tools and equipment and evaluate the impact of their use (VCDSTC037) Creating Designed Solutions
Year 7/8 Physical Sciences Energy appears in different forms including movement (kinetic energy), heat, light, chemical energy and potential energy; devices can change energy from one form to another (VCSSU104)
Year 7/8 Design and Technology Technologies Contexts: Analyse how motion, force and energy are used to manipulate and control electromechanical systems when creating simple, engineered solutions (VCDSTC045) Materials and Technologies specialisations: Analyse ways to create designed solutions through selecting and combining characteristics and properties of materials, systems, components, tools and equipment (VCDSTC048) Creating Designed Solutions
Electronic brooch
Light-up mini-monsters
What you need: Felt and woolen fabric scraps Sewing thread, needles and scissors 3V button battery and battery holder Conductive thread (SparkFun) Light emitting diodes (Jaycar) Embroidery thread, buttons and beads Optional: Safety pins, press-studs, feathers, fur, sequins, pipe-cleaners etc
Light-Emitting Diodes (LED s) are available in a variety of sizes and colours. They have a long wire and short wire to distinguish between the positive and negative sides. They will only light up when attached to the power source the correct way.
Cut two copies of your pattern from felt the battery and globe is attached to the back copy and the front piece is the decorative one.
Attach the conductive thread to the battery holder using a half hitch
Attach the battery holder to the back felt and sew from the battery holder to the LED and then from the LED back to the other side of the battery holder, to form a complete circuit do not cross the threads!
Decorate the front felt with embroidery and/or beadwork, making sure you leave a flap unstitched to replace the battery. You may like to cut a small hole in the felt to allow the LED to shine through.
Contact me: Email: brittgow@gmail.com Twitter: @brittgow Blog: http://stem.global2.vic.edu.au School: Hawkesdale P12 College Phone: (03) 55607225