In Spring 2017 I developed and facilitated a six week evening course in wearable electronics / e-textiles, in collaboration with Richard Millwood and Doireann Wallace, both from the School of Computer Science and Statistics in Trinity College Dublin.
Participants learned to sew a simple circuit with conductive thread and LEDs, learned to write simple Arduino code for use with Adafruit FLORA - the wearable electronics Arduino board - and learned how to control an LED with a light sensor, before moving on to designing and making their own projects.
The finished projects included a musical glove controlled by light sensors, light-up braces controlled by a pulse sensor, an illuminated bowler hat that visually represented the 'light bulb' moment when you have an idea, a coat with embedded electroluminescent panel, felt jewellery lit up by LEDs, and a scarf with embedded speakers.
This project was part funded by the Trinity College Dublin Visual Arts and Performance Fund.