Engineering Neoteny
2018
Concept and Research by Hui Sim Chandesign thesis is available upon request.
“How are the memories from previous experiences associated with the behavior we perform with our bodies?”
Engineering Neoteny is an exploration of the cross-sensory relationship between body posture, movement, and environmental context using bio-sensing.
Our emotions, body postures, and movements are tied together strongly. That is something that we cannot hide but often ignore. The true relevance of our sense of smell has long been forgotten. It has a hidden influence on our behavior and consciousness as the smell is a process in which we directly interact with our environment. A change in one's body posture or movements can impact the way a person interacts with the environment and how they feel about their performance (Lakoff & Johnson, 1999).
This experimental wearable device is created through a system that utilizes bio-sensing technology. Electromyography (EMG) muscle sensors are used to detect muscle tensions from the shoulder (deltoids) and thigh (quadriceps) which send signals translated into commands to a micro-controller. Through these commands, the microcontroller triggers doses of scents from different capsules attached to the wearable.
“The physiological data recorded (EMG Signals, muscle tension) and our behavior shows desire for dialogue through the intimate connection between the user and Neoteny”
This wearable is a composition conceived to document daily body movements and postures to then stimulate the body to recreate those movements using a simple olfactory mechanism. At the core of this study is the universal understanding of two underlying
spheres of knowledge between the record of quantified sell self-movement and its experiences.
This project attempts to further explore on possibilities of using this technology in our daily living.
EXHIBITIONS
Living Lab
Group Exhibition
Ars Electronica, Linz, Austria [2018]
Project Faire
The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL [2018]
PROJECT DEVELOPED AT
