INFLATED
Modes for Urban Moods- Teressa Alameida
I was hanging out over at ITP and snapped a few photos of Teresa Alameida’s thesis project, “Modes for Urban Moods.” The idea behind the project consists of: “A suite of wearables - Urban coping mechanisms which explore relationships in public spaces and materialize invisible social networks.” Apparently this is the only garment that is completed, however sketches for the other wearables are displayed. With this garment the wearer inflates the garment to give themselves more space in crowded conditions. Interesting because it is the exact opposite approach I took with RECOIL which is to challenge that desire for additional space not by giving in, but by forcing people physically closer. (Recoil also uses magnets and doesn’t inflate, but what’s more interesting than the technology is the similarity of social context the projects aim to address.)
Speaking of inflatables, came across a related project over at the a class blog for industrial design intelligence over at the MIT Media Lab. titled “Comfy” (scroll down) but renamed “Pneumatic Clothing” on Guari Nanda’s website (look under catalogue) the idea is a familiar one of clothing which also provides the comforts of “home.” Much like Lucy Orta’s work, or that of Ana Rewakowicz, but with a much more marketable quality. Also, instead of being envisioned as a transient shelter or poetic statement about refuge and displacement, Comfy/Pneumatic Clothing seems more oriented towards the “New Nomad.” Upwardly mobile, physically attractive, with a life-on-the-go that can’t and shouldn’t stop for anything. It’s the computationally enhanced version of the Supermodern Wardrobe. One of the more interesting parts of the project description in the blog is this:
“The only work I’ve seen that integrates sensing technology with an inflatable form is on airbags for motorcycles and bicycles. Additionally, I have not seen any research in the vein of ‘technology for comfort’…”
Works in progress by Gauri Nanda
Hm… maybe she should check out the work of some of the artists mentioned above, to name only a few among many others. That said, I do like the idea, like Nanda’s other nifty creation, BYOB.