New Paper accepted to ACM DIS2020
Weaving a Second Skin: Exploring Opportunities for Crafting On-Skin Interfaces Through Weaving
Ruojia Sun, Ryosuke Onese, Margaret Dunne, Andrea Ling, Amanda Denham, Cindy Hsin-Liu Kao
ACM Designing Interactive Systems (DIS) 2020 (Acceptance rate 24%)
Prof. Kao lectures (virtually!) for RISD Textiles Dept’s Digital Materiality course. Special thanks to instructor Joy Ko for the invite.
Our on-skin interface research exhibits at the Ars Electronica Outpost: human (un)limited Hyundai Motorstudio Beijing.
Cindy speaks with Ars Electronica on the future of on-body technology, and the role of the designer ahead of the Ars Electronica's "human (un)limited" exhibition in Beijing.
Ars Elecronica, By Katia Kreuzhuber
https://ars.electronica.art/aeblog/en/2020/01/07/duoskin/
For a long time, technology was synonymous with tools or large, heavy equipment. Today, technology is becoming less and less visible, even one with us. Which vision is the driving force behind the development of on-skin interfaces?
Cindy Hsin-Liu Kao: At the Hybrid Body Lab, which I direct, we are interested in the convergence of technology and culture on the skin surface. We can extensively explore these slim interfaces which sit on the body surface, much due to the miniaturization of sensor devices and the development of novel materials in the field of engineering. However, while technological developments enable our work, we are interested in bridging the gap between the technical aspects and the broader cultural and societal contexts on what it now means to wear technology directly on your skin and to design differently for these concerns. This will become an increasingly important question as the body surface is complex and meaning-laden, and unlike any other media, not just another surface to technologize. In essence, we are inspired by, yet at the same time, not entirely content with the current state of technology. This tension is what drives our inquiry. We design artifacts as a lens to explore alternative possibilities of what these interfaces could be.
We spend more and more time in digital spaces. We are moving in a world in which our senses as well as our cultural techniques reach their limits. We cannot see the data traces we leave behind. We don’t know who is watching us here and recording every step we take. Yes, we increasingly don’t even know whether our counterpart is a human being or a machine. What does it take for us to be able to move in the digital world just as safely and self-determinedly as we do in our natural environment?
Cindy Hsin-Liu Kao: This question and anxiety around control and agency of technology, once it becomes so close to the body, is critical to whether they will eventually be embraced, or rejected when they move into the general-use realm. I think it is an essential role of designers of these emerging interfaces to start engaging broader populations in the inquiry of these questions, through public exhibitions to hands-on prototyping of these emerging interfaces, and also to provide opportunities for playful interactions which these devices. For instance, for DuoSkin, we actively conducted workshops inviting people to make, and also envision possible use cases, and concerns towards on-skin interfaces. Only by starting to understand how people from a broad range of backgrounds and cultures perceive these devices, and their concerns towards them, as early as possible, can we as designers be proactive and design in a way that respects the user’s preferred sense of agency and control.
Researchers and developers as well as artists drive technological progress. They create new possibilities and business models that – sometimes quite unexpected – have consequences for us as a society. How do you see your responsibility as a researcher, as a developer? Which limits do you want to overcome with your work, which ones perhaps impose on yourself?
Cindy Hsin-Liu Kao: As a researcher and designer, I think it is crucial to engage the public with these emerging interfaces as early as possible to understand perceptions. To design emerging interfaces which not only sit in the lab but can be prototyped and experience by broader audiences is important. For our DuoSkin project, beyond several smaller-scale workshops, our lab recently deployed a large scale and cross-cultural on-line study on hundreds of participants to understand perceptions towards the on-skin interfaces we designed. This, in turn, informs the next iteration of our work. I think these investigations should happen as early on as possible in the design exploration process so that design decisions and changes can be made and not wait until the technology is fully deployed as a product, as that is often too late. Only by understanding perceptions beyond our technological imagination can we start to tackle these challenging problems.
Congratulations to the Hybrid Body Lab team of our ISWC'19 paper for receiving a Best Paper Honorable Mention Award! Thanks to all of the awesome collaborators and the rest of the Hybrid Body lab for the support! It is such a privilege to get to work with such an inspiring group of researchers.
Best Paper Honorable Mentioned for ACM International Symposium on Wearable Computers (ISWC) 2019:
Understanding Social Perceptions Towards Interacting with On-Skin Interfaces in Public
Chuang-Wen You* , Ya-Fang Li*, Elle Luo* , Hung-Yeh Lin, Cindy Hsin-Liu Kao (* equal contribution)
ACM International Symposium on Wearable Computers (ISWC) 2019 (Acceptance rate 24%) (to appear)
ACM ISWC 2019 Program: http://ubicomp.org/ubicomp2019/program_papers.html
Kino, our Kinetic Jewelry project is now on-view in the traveling exhibition "Adorned Archetypes: A Queen Within," along with the work of our design heroes Alexander McQueen, Iris Van Herpen, Issey Miyake, and more! On view at Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture until September 2, 2019.
"Adorned Archetypes: A Queen Within" http://www.mopop.org/aqueenwithin
A sampling of press the exhibition has received:
The Observer: http://observer.com/2018/05/new-orleans-museums-a-queen-within-showcases-inclusive-fashion/
Document Journal: http://www.documentjournal.com/2018/05/a-queen-within-and-the-celebration-of-unchecked-female-power/
CR Fashion Book: https://www.crfashionbook.com/culture/a27457302/seattles-museum-of-pop-culture-contemplates-feminine-symbology/
We will be presenting a new paper investigating social perceptions towards interacting with on-skin interfaces in public, at ACM International Symposium on Wearable Computers (ISWC) 2019, the premier wearable computing conference, held in London, UK this coming September!
Abstract: Wearable devices have evolved towards intrinsic human augmentation, unlocking the human skin as an interface for seamless interaction. However, the non-traditional form factor of these on-skin interfaces, as well as the gestural interactions performed on them may raise concerns for public wear. These perceptions will influence whether a new form of technology will eventually be accepted, or rejected by society. Therefore, it is essential for researchers to consider the societal implications of device design. In this paper, we investigate the third person perceptions of a user’s interactions with an on-skin touch sensor. Specifically, we examine social perceptions towards the placement of the on-skin interface in different body locations, as well as gestural interactions performed on the device. The study was conducted in the United States and Taiwan to examine cross-cultural attitudes towards device usage. The results of this structured examination offer insight into the design of on-skin interfaces for public use.
Publication: “Understanding Social Perceptions Towards Interacting with On-Skin Interfaces in Public”, Chuang-Wen You* , Ya-Fang Li*, Elle Luo* , Hung-Yeh Lin, Cindy Hsin-Liu Kao (* equal contribution). ACM International Symposium on Wearable Computers (ISWC) 2019 (Acceptance rate 24%) (to appear)
Women of Wearables is a global organization for women in wearable technology and STEM. Prof. Cindy Hsin-Liu Kao spoke as a panelist about the work in the Hybrid Body Lab.
Prof. Cindy Hsin-Liu Kao receives Einaudi Center Seed Grant to study cross-cultural perspectives towards on-skin interfaces
The Einaudi Center’s mission is to “enhance Cornell University's research and teaching about the world's regions, countries, cultures, and languages.” The Hybrid Body Lab is grateful for this support to kickstart research in cross-cultural studies towards wearable technology.
Prof. Kao is awarded the PWCC Affinito-Stewart Award Grant for “Adapting Double Weaving for Fabrication of Multi-layered On-Skin User Interfaces.“
Prof. Kao speaks at the Cornell Robotics Seminar:
https://robotics.cornell.edu/2019/08/15/hybrid-body-craft-convergence-of-function-culture-and-aesthetics-on-the-skin-surface/
DuoSkin, our metallic jewelry on-skin interface project is now on-view in the Pompidou Center’s “La Fabrique du vivant” exhibition.
“La Fabrique du vivant” (Fabric of the Living): https://www.centrepompidou.fr/cpv/agenda/event.action?param.id=FR_R-0e1ca28a3e1128d624b2d8375beead0¶m.idSource=FR_E-0e1ca28a3e1128d624b2d8375beead0
A sampling of press the exhibition has received:
Le boudoir numérique: https://boudoirnumerique.com/magazine-en/2019/4/5/b3u5mjlq4hja81mksntbo762wsnf6v?format=amp&fbclid=IwAR1-g1ycU5BMhC0IXi7O0elwj3qAeKBLwfNnu62wPWyqJGcUtUo6RRbSV60
See our Glowing Nature video featured in "The factory of the living" @Centrepompidou.fr. The exhibition traces an archeology of life and artificial life. Resolutely prospective, it presents the most significant creations and innovations in the field of art, design and architecture through the works of fifty or so creators.
Prof Kao speaks at the Spring 2019 Cornell Fiber Science & Apparel Design Seminar
Prof. Kao speaks at the Spring 2019 Cornell Graphics Seminar
DuoSkin exhibits in the “Future Room“ at the Museum of Jewellery in Vicenza, Italy.
https://www.museodelgioiello.it/en/iii-edition-2019-2020/future-room
Prof. Cindy Hsin-Liu Kao lectures at the Royal College of Art’s Fashion Design Department. Many thanks to Helene Steiner for hosting!
Read MoreSkinMorph was awarded the best paper honorable mention award at the ACM International Symposium on Wearable Computers (ISWC) 2018, the premier wearable computing conference
SkinMorph Best Paper Honorable Mention: http://iswc.net/iswc18/prog_awards.html
KINO, our Kinetic Jewelry project , is awarded the Fast Company Innovation by Design Award Honorable Mention, Experimental Category
https://www.fastcompany.com/innovation-by-design/2018/category/experimental