Interaction opportunities around helmet design
Wouter Walmink, Alan D. Chatham, Florian Mueller · 2014
People wear helmets to protect themselves in case of accidents. We are asking: what other purposes could a helmet serve? Our answer LumaHelm turns the helmet into a display for communication, expression and play. LumaHelm allows us to explore how to support cyclists' safety, skateboarders' self-expression and riders' communication of heart rate. Our work demonstrates the feasibility of helmets as platform for mounting interactive technology. It also highlights a new interaction technique, possible when the data on wearable displays is available to others nearby, but not to the wearer. With our work, we aim to inspire fellow design researchers to consider how safety gear like helmets can use interactivity technology to support the activities in which they are used.