RESHAPE19 | Cognified matter
Wearable technology category
MetaForm
Since millions of years, nature has been adapting itself to new conditions precio avodart. As time goes by, although the evolution of human intelligence
and creativity have been accelerated, this acceleration is not observed at the capabilities of our body. However, we always like to imagine ourselves; faster, stronger or with more developed aural and visual functions. Therefore, we are creating stories and movies with heroes/heroines who have more advanced body functionalities. Nowadays, with the increase in understanding biology and computationa science, our intelligence and creativity enable us to fasten the evolution of our physical capabilities.
Due to climate change, Earth will expose to more extreme weather conditions. As the planet warms, intensification of the wet and dry seasons will be observed. This intensification will not only affect the living conditions of human, but it will also trigger skin diseases like eczema. The skin with eczema doesn’t work as a good barrier to protect us. It leaks moisture. Therefore, skin gets dried out and this causes more irritation by extreme heat, cold and humidity. With ‘MetaForm’ we are proposing a new perspective to wearable design. MetaForm is a form of the human exoskeleton, which improves the performance of human body by adapting itself to both external and internal conditions.
While plants have cellulose to create rigidity for cells and to provide structural support; insects, spiders, arthropods have chitin to create exoskeletons for protecting themselves from external threats. In MetaForm, we are using 3D print cellulose and chitosan (deacetylated chitin) to create new human exoskeleton in order to improve human skin. Our wearable is specifically designed for people with an eczema skin disease who might affect more from extreme wet and dry weather conditions. The cellulose and chitosan made composite material (exoskeleton) is printed on cotton. With the help of air-permeable features of cotton, while we are cooling down the body temperature to decrease the inflammation, we are also allowing the skin to breathe. Besides, to absorb the excess sweat on the skin and not to make it dry; hydrophilic cellulose and chitin made 3D print material is used. Moreover, it is well known that chitosan is a good solution for wound healing and it has an inhibitory activity against S. aureus which triggers eczema.
This is a new algorithmic design solution along with parameters such as materials, fabrication methods, and cost constraints. In the design process, a 3D scan of the body of a model is used as a starting point. By running an agent algorithm over the body, patterns are created that are influenced not only by the shape of the body but also the eczema area. Thanks to 3d scan technology, MetaForm is developed as an integrated framework for the design of mass customization systems, aiming at replacing the traditional sizes system (XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL) with a 3d scan technology and personal customization of the product.
Digital tools are making a leap from being passive to being generative. Generative design tools use a computer and algorithm to synthesize geometry to come up with new designs all by themselves. During the traditional design process, the designer should sketch something and move into the process and have one or a couple of solutions, with generative design, the algorithm explores all the possible permutations of a solution, quickly generating design alternatives.
The new paradigm at wearable is starting from subject-oriented design and moving through to object-oriented design. Although fashion for wearable has been considered unsustainable for a long time, now it is a matter for environmental remediation and healthcare solution. When we rethink wearable as a solution for our future health and environmental issues; sustainability and smart textiles are becoming a new fashion in wearable design.
