You're a woman and a man is staring at you in a creepy way. So, yes, sometimes you wish you had a pet tiger by your side ready to pounce. Or a deadly snake around your neck (both of which would explain all the staring).
Both those tactics are fairly impractical so instead we have this, Behnaz Farahi's Caress of the Gaze smart clothing project, which is impractical in all sorts of new, futuristic ways. It's part of the interaction designer's artist-in-residence program with Pier 9 and in collaboration with Autodesk.
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The sci-fi top - top? - is constructed out of 3D printed spikes which are programmed to move in a life-like manner when the on-board camera, with a facial tracking algorithm, detects inappropriate ogling. It illustrates exactly where someone's eyes are locked, we assume to shame them. A connected crop top, then. A wearable bodyguard guaranteed to make the 'starer' at least 12.3 times more uncomfortable than he made you.
Caress of the Gaze from Pier 9 on Vimeo.
In effect, the garment looks like it's breathing and seething even, ready to pounce, like your tiger or snake sidekick would be. It's a similar take on personal space and human interactions to the various, fashion forward dresses we've seen from frequent Intel collaborator Anouk Wipprecht.
Both examples of crazy connected couture are unlikely to make their way from concept to high street any time soon but to some extent they do open up the debate on what our clothing is currently providing us (warmth, protection) and the potential for what it could provide in the future.
Via: Engadget
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