TEACHING E-TEXTILES (proposals)

¶  * For children

    * pick a focused topic
    * design a proper activity, something to achieve (min 1h, up to 4h)
    * include a story for them to relate and be interested
    * give guidelines (papers on the table)
    * start simple but explain the challenges
    * assist and help with sewing
    * attempt to make them do something collectively, in groups to encourage helping each other
    * use paper and drawing first to get them starting
    * [...]

¶  * For teenagers and adults

    * start with an inspirational short presentation on a topic
    ie:
        * interaction design and e-textile possibilities
        * wearables as "on the body" technology
        * biomaterials and technology
        * [...]
    * remind electricity principles
    * hands-on activity:
        * focused on a technique or something to achieve
        * or free space for personal experiments
    * [...]

¶  * For all of them

    * introduce materials and get used to test things with multimeter
    * always push boundaries but give confidence:
        * older women think they can not solder!
        * young boy thinks he can not sew...
    * make space for discussion (tech, black boxes, hackers, materials, references...)
    * [...]

¶  * General techniques
:
    * hand-sewing with conductive threads (from 6 yo)
    * soft buttons, resistive sensors in a simple LED circuit (from 6yo)
    * soldering on conductive fabric (from 14 yo)
    * circuit mock-ups (from 10yo)

¶  * Specific techniques
Need tools and machines
:
    * knit with hacked knitting machines (image making, machine use, hack)
    * screenprinting thermochromic inks (colour changing, heat, hidden patterns, electronics)
    * design a circuit with vinyl cutter
    * shape-changing actuators (training & integrating & activating SMA, heat circuit)
    * [...]

¶  * Less generic techniques & activities
Never tested as facilitator
:
    * etching circuit on conductive textile (wax or thread resist)
    * etextiles tools making (for practitionners)
    * designing interactive etextile objects (interaction design, shape and material exploration)
    * integration of optical fibers
    * [...]

¶  * Non electronic
:
    * shibori patterns and natural dyes (environmental, craft, meditation)
    * nomadic tool bags (can present my bags, what do we need ideation) +kobakant
    * bio-textiles, bio-plastiques (experimental, cooking, membranes)

¶  * Current research | experimental
Workshops will emerge from it soon
:
    * shape changing or moving actuators (muscle wire, paper, wood, elastic bands, pneumatics)
        <<< already "activated matter", from 2D to 3D, tensegrity ... more to come ...
    * body and space (collaboration with dancers...)
    * EMF sensing and etextile
    * ATtiny and programming (minimalist sound for example, collective composition)
    * ecology, citizen science, chemical pollution
    * open-air / off-grid workshop settings (nomadic studio, efficient deployment, energy)
    * etextiles headphones (copper coils, amplifier circuit)
    * pleated etextiles
    * materials made conductive (DIY, low tech)
    * soft potentiometers and voltage dividers for stable analog values
    * [...]

¶  * with children (from 6yo)
:
    * e-textile monsters (simple sewing circuit with LEDs, a textile button and a battery pocket)
        ~3h
        done with up to 70 students and 1 helper for 10... needs attention when kids are young

    * sound masks (555 circuit ready, material exploration and sound composition)
    developed with support from Adrian Freed -> http://adrianfreed.com/content/analog-and-digital-sound-synthesis-relaxation-oscillators-0
        ~3h
        3x 15 students (required lots of preparation !!!)

    * tilt bracelet (sewing and/or soldering on fabric)
        ~2h30
        8 students (up to 15 ok)

Those can also be conducted with other publics, soldering on textile can be done with 15yo and a thin iron.
ie. families at social centers, ...

¶  * with teenagers (from 13yo)
:
    * minimalist composition (electronic sound exploration, drawing of a music plan, collective work)
    developed with Beam Contrechoc
        ~1h (could be extended)
        4x 15 students

    * screenprinting with colour changing inks (pattern design, collective work, with or without electronics)
        ~2h
        3x 12 students (1 screen for 2)

    * from 2D to 3D (cut techniques, other materials - paper, wood and elastic bands -, principles from architecture)
        ~1h
        2x 12 students (more is possible)

    * "electric bamboo" in a land-art installation (outdoor, solar panel, analog, soldering)
        ~3h
        with 2 students of 16yo

    * "activated matter" (SMA presentation, integration, small soldering, materials exploration)
        ~3h minimum
        with 2 teens (12 and 14 yo) and 3 adults (on seperate projects)

¶  * with (art) students (from 18yo)
:
    * weaving sensors and circuits with back strapped laser cut looms (weaving techniques incl. loom preparation and materials)
        ~5h
        done with up to 9 students (1 loom each)

    * reading sensors values with Arduino (textile sensors, Arduino basics, open source technology, tech democratisation)
        ~5h
        14 students (1 Arduino for 2)

    * listenning to sound signals from EMF sensing with fractal antennas (electronics, soldering)
    developed by Afroditi Psarra -> http://www.afroditipsarra.com/
        ~6h (so 2 afternoons)
        14 students (1 soldering iron for 2)

¶  * with participants to tech nights (any age)
This example relates to people with an interest in tech topics from different backgrounds that never did anything with e-textiles before.
There I acted as a facilitator and supported their ideas in order to make simple analog prototypes ~2h
:
    * personal projects using e-textile materials
    ie:
        * head twist sensor with resistive threads and LEDs (50+ man)
        * pressure sensing soles (20+ art student)
        * interactive wallet sensing coins inside (teen)
        * resistive sock (child)
        * [...]

¶    * Junior Lab @Berlin 7-11 OCT
:
    * tilt object
    * other soft circuits ?

spielerish textile objekt
kompass ball "tilt sensor"
also demo how to connect it to Arduino !!!
and a squeeshy ball with conductive wool !!!

PREVIOUSLY

Weiche Schaltkreise und flexible Elektronik öffnen eine neue Reihe von Möglichkeiten in der Textilwelt; ob es neue Funktionen unterstützt, uns zu befähigen, oder Selbstdarstellung, wenn auf dem Körper getragen. E-Textilien, erzählen uns neue Geschichten, als wir mit den auf spielerische Weisen aufeinander wirken können. Während wir elektrische Eigenschaften von verschiedenen Materialien und Textiltechniken erforschen werden, werden wir weiche Sensoren und Aktoren erschaffen.

NEW PROPOSAL

Weiche Schaltkreise und flexible Elektronik öffnen eine neue Reihe von Möglichkeiten in der Textilwelt.
Enwicklungen als Wearables - auf dem Körper getragen - oder interaktive Objekte, E-Textilien erzählen uns neue Geschichten, als wir mit den auf spielerische Weisen aufeinander wirken können. Während wir elektrische Eigenschaften von verschiedenen Materialien und Textiltechniken erforschen werden, werden wir weiche Sensoren und Aktoren erschaffen.

¶  * @Murcia / @Blanca 26.OCT - 9.NOV +selu
:
    * ask more infos on:
        * public
        * planned activities
        * facilities (space, tools)
        * their interests
        * [...]


in general
:
    * 2h is really short, 3h minimum is better (because of making everybody comfortable :) )
    * English is easier
    * if I get support for translation Spanish is for sure possible
    * no prior knowledge is required to attend, designed for beginners


if it is for a group of approx. 5 teens-adults
:
    * format can stay open
    * min 3h needed
    * intro to materials, concepts, techniques
    * realisation based on personal interest
    * to get materials is easy (I have a lot with me already)
    * can be relatively experimental (I want to try some new things too!)
        <<< see:
            SMA
            EMF
            555
            Etextiles (basics) and Arduino demo/test (if you have extra boards) ~5h


if it is for a group of 8-12 teens-adults
:
    * need to have a clearer topic ready
        so "restrict" to a proposal (SMA, 555, any etextile intro with various analog sensors, LED circuits...)
    * earlier notice is necessary as to gather the needed material (electronic components are not always easy to get on site)


other possibilities
:
    * kids workshop
    * lecture open for everybody (well, language?)
    * host a knitting circle for locals (as analog, no conductive manipulation)
    * [...]

¶  * Piksel Kidz @Bergen 11-15.NOV
  
    * etextiles customization
    * tilt object
    * activated matter if teenagers
    * EMF sound sensing ?


PAST COMMUNIQUE by them
Electrotextile workshop is a practical and theoretical workshop aimed at the making, remixing and intervening of accessories and garments through the manufacture of soft and flexible electronic circuits.
The participants will approach the concept of wearables or “wearable technologies” and the basic notions of electronics. To this end, circuits will be prototyped and creative projects will be developed by mixing textiles and materials capable of conducting electricity.
Kids will learn to make resistances and soft switches with cloth, felt, thread for lighting or sound applications and they can customize your clothes or accessories with led light.
Using the learning methods Do It Yourself (DIY) and Do It With Others (DIWO).


also needs photos !


NEW COMMUNIQUE

Electronic textiles or E-textiles are the encounter of flexible materials, soft circuitry and electronic functionality.
Worn on the body as "wearables" or displayed in our everyday environment, those active or reactive materials let us rethink our needs, possibilities and dreams.
Either by developing playful tactile interfaces or customizing garments, we will learn about basic notions of electricity, innovative materials, textile techniques and interaction design in order to invite kids and teenagers to imagine and create for themselves using e-textiles.

On demand and depending on participant's ages the artist will prepare materials for:
    * the introduction to soft sensors (pushbuttons, stretchy or squeeshy materials) and basic circuitry
    * needle techniques with conductive treads (sewing, embroidery)
    * soldering
    * the creation of playful tilt sensors
    * a more advanced exploration on activated matters with a power heat circuit



About Pauline Vierne

As a design researcher specialized in smart materials interfaces and electronic textiles in particular she applied and developed her practical skills during her involvement at the Design Research Lab, Berlin University of the Arts and at DFKI, the German Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence. During five years she developed functional prototypes within research projects that dealt mostly with the role of interactive textiles, sensing and actuating for body-worn purposes, as well as interior design applications for connected home environments.

As a nomadic artist in residency since 2018, working and living in various remote places, from the TAM camp in Taiwanese mountains, the French Contemporary Art Center les Moulins de Paillard, to CHT hackbase on Lanzarote and the city of Victoria in Romania, she weaves a network of alternative local initiatives. Performing research outside of traditional institutions and, insofar context-related, being sometimes confronted to the lack of basic infrastructures (access to water or absence of wifi) has refocused her usual rather "hands-on" material approach, towards attempting to share holistic understanding of mass anthropogenic impact such as the ecocide.

As a lecturer, she believes e-textiles to be an exemplary medium for transmission as, being a cross-disciplinary field by definition, they have proven to break access barriers both by opening up the black boxes of technology, and allowing for concerns on future technological developments to be discussed.


<---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(new) (now) 2

¶  * ALWAYS
:
    * needles (one for each participant)
    * scissors and plyers (a few to share)
    * multimeters (enough to share)
    * fabric
    * resistors (10kΩ and 220Ω)
    * LEDs
    * coin cell batteries (CR2032, 3V)
    * crocodile clips
    * various conductive and resistive fabrics
    * conductive threads
    * needle threader can help
    * paper and pens
    * [...]

¶  * case of screenprinting
:
    * A4+ screens (1 for 2 participants)
    * squeeges (1 per screen)
    * running water and/or buckets
    * spoons, wooden sticks, ...
    * sponges, towels, hair dryer (not too hot)
    * lots of large paper and plastic tapes
    * base for inks (mostly water base, depends on the pigments)
    * slurry or pigment (solid and changing colours)
    * different kinds of fabrics
    * [...]

¶  * other cases to detail
:
    [...]



<---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(new) 3

¶Sponsors
### !!!
Draft ideas for materials and networks support.
:
    * etextile summercamp network and group orders
    * EU materials:
        Statex DE (fabrics)
        Karl Grimm DE (copper threads)
        <- search for Spanish alternatives !!!
    * [...]

¶Possible Partners @Canarias

→ 🔗trucko-mobile
→ 🔗canarias