Encasing Computation
Kate Hartman, Chris Luginbuhl, Yiyi Shao, Ricardo Toller Correia · 2020
This paper introduces initial attempts to bridge the worlds of digital fabrication and do-it-yourself wearable electronics. It introduces a selection of microcontrollers that are anticipated to work well in a wearable context and provides an overview of five prototypes: Folding Felt Photon, Photon Sleepers, Circuit Playground Aurora Hat, Feather Belt, and Feather Shoes. These prototypes use laser cutting and/or 3D printing to produce microcontroller enclosures that can be worn on the body. Rigid and flexible materials are used alone and in combination to achieve qualities such as conformability, comfort, and device protection. Digital fabrication techniques facilitate rapid and repeatable production of prototypes for testing while allowing precise modification of fit, material thickness and machine settings. The intent is to demonstrate this approach and to share initial designs for digitally fabricated encasements that allow researchers, designers, and artists to better integrate small computational systems into clothing or other wearables.