Interactive Textiles

Throughout this week I would like to post ideas discussed at the Inspired Design conference along with the usual Please Sir content. A big topic at the conference was incorporating technology in textiles to create smart textiles. Like the SensFloor that triggers if someone falls or the heat generating jacket by North Face providing warmth on demand. Speaker Matilda McQuaid talked about these pioneering products and showed work by Maggie Orth. Recognized for her innovative designs, Orth merges textiles and technology to create brilliant interactive pieces. Check out some of her designs:

For Petal Pusher viewers touch the electronic textile sensor area of each pattern, the felt and embroidered yarns are illuminated from behind, revealing the light transmissive properties of the textile. Check out the VIDEO. I would love to see this in a waiting room or even my living room!

Pile Blocks works by touching the gray conductive areas where light is transmitted through the woven textile to reveal hidden color and pattern. Touching the different pile sensors creates various animated lighting patterns. Can you see the lighting patterns? A similar work is Running Plaid - I love the VIDEO.

Here's a functional and fun way to adjust your lighting. Instead of reaching for a cold, plastic switch imagine adjusting your light with a touch of soft fabric. ESSENTIAL™ Wall Dimmers and Fuzzy Light Sensors are a completely new and aesthetic way to adjust the lights in your home. I could play with these for hours!

During the conference I felt like I was witnessing amazing breakthroughs in technology and textiles. The possibilities seem endless as technology becomes more advanced and easily fits into our clothes, car and home. I keep wondering - how could smart textiles work for me and you?

{text and images found via maggieorth.com}