Innosummer project 2/2010: Wearable Computing

Background and Motivation
Wearable computing is one of the future trends, where development in the areas such as smart materials, miniaturization, sensor systems and flexible displays will open new opportunities. While these technologies are still emerging, we can now look at creative ways to use the currently available components. This project is an exploratory hands-on project which aims to demonstrate what we can do now with creativity and existing, everyday technology.

Project Goal
The goal of the project is to innovate creative wearable computing items (e.g. integrated on t-shirts, hats, sunglasses, shoes), and build them with existing technical components. In addition to utilizing electronics kits, the material can be extracted from toys, legos, Christmas lights, game boards, etc. – what ever you may find useful. The resulting demonstrators can be useful but they can be also be purely fun – let your creativity rule.

Desired skills/competencies
The students should have creative minds, positive can-do spirit, and earlier hands-on experience on building things – whether it is hacking electronics or playing with Mindstorm kits.

Development tools, environments and standards
The students can decide what kits and components to use within the given budget frame (estimated to be a few hundreds euro).

Time period
The project constitutes full-time work for the project team between 24.5 - 31.8.2010.

Interaction between stakeholder and project team
The work will mainly be done at the Demola 'office' in Tampere, Finlayson. There will be regular meetings with the company partner and the team members. There will also be other forms of communication and guidance available to the team. The team will report the work by writing a team blog on the Demola website.
 
Support (supervision & financial)
Demola staff will supervise the reports and by the end of each month the team will also write a one page summary of the reported project actions, methods used, implemented software, and results.

How to apply for Innosummer
It's possible to apply by April 11th. Further information on www.demola.fi/innosummer2010