synapseWear:
wearable sensing for the
body & environment
/ About
synapseWear is backed and organized by
aprg
(art and program, Inc. based in Tokyo).
The creative core behind synapseWear is
Alexander Reeder
(aprg)
and
Valérie Lamontagne
(3lectromode).
We are not doing this to get rich. We are doing this because it is something we believe should exist, and we enjoy it. We hope you will support us.
The Team
Creative Core:
Alexander Reeder and Valérie Lamontagne
Design:
Tomoki Tachibana, Shed Inc.
Industrial Design:
Toshihiko Sakai, Sakai Design Associate Ltd.
Fashion Design and Coordination:
Mina Maeda, Grosgrain
Sound Design:
Photography:
Models:
Video:
Hardware + Software:
/ Device
The Device
Small and light the synapseWear wearable device includes 6 sensors to capture your motion and environmental data. These sensors act as mnemonic recorders of your sentient experiences perceiving: C02/TVOC, temperature, humidity, pressure, light, movement (9DOF) and ambient sound levels.
There are two modes for recording/using your data: performance mode and background mode, both of which are communicated to your mobile phone via a bluetooth device. The synapseWear performance mode lets you send real-time data from the device to a PC via OSC at 5 data readings per second. While the synapseWear background mode captures and stores your environment data for future use.
Data and Privacy
We want you to own your data. If you want to store data only on your mobile, there is a setting for that. If you want to upload your data to our cloud, there is a setting for that. If you want to upload your data to your cloud, there is a setting for that. You are free to choose how and where your data is stored. We also do not store, monitor or track your location via GPS. synapseWear includes a microphone, but it is used to detect ambient sound levels (how loud things are around you). The microphone cannot be used to eavesdrop.
Open Source Open Hardware
SynapseWear is open source. That includes the firmware for the device, the app on your phone and the server software. If you want to check whether we are siphoning data without your permission, you can. If you want to add a feature to the app, implement it and send it to us (or compile and install the app yourself), you can. If you want to make your own server, you can.
We hope synapseWear will be a great learning tool. By open sourcing the app, server side code and providing a device with a small footprint and integrated sensors we hope to raise the bar for wearable research and education.
Device Specifications
| CCS811 | Air Quality |
|---|---|
| ICM20948 | 9DOF |
| ENS210 | Temperature + Humidity |
| BM1383 | Pressure |
| APDS9250 | Light (Ambient + RGB) |
| SPH1642HT5H | Sound |
| MAX17048 | Fuel + Model gauge |
| BLE 4.0 | Simblee (16MHz ARM Cortex-M0, 128kb flash, 24kb RAM) |
| Battery | 110 mAh lithium ion polymer (LIPO) |
| Size | 65mm x 22mm x 9.87mm (2.56" x 0.87" x 0.39") |
| 1 RGB LED | |
| TCA6507 | LED Driver |
| 1.8V Design |
/ Fashion
Collection
We have developed apparel that allows you to place the sensor where you like on your body. If you are measuring CO2, place it on your shirt at the nape of your neck. If you are measuring movement, place it on your pants leg. Currently the garment collection includes t-shirts and pants. There are no electronics integrated in the apparel. We did this on purpose, so if your clothing rips or wears out, you can keep on using your device (and vice versa). The special fabric strips integrated into synapseWear apparel allows you the freedom to place the device where you like on your body.
Are you a dancer creating an interactive performance?
No problem.
Going on a run and want to keep track of air quality?
Perfect.
Just want to experiment?
Definitely.
newneu Collaboration
We are excited to announce that we will collaborate with Japanese brand newneu on the creation of a unique synapseWear patch! The synapseWear device is fully compatible with newneu's bags, and their patches are fully compatible with our garments collection. So you can mix and match beautiful newneu patches and products with synapseWear! To get an idea of the possibilities check out their online store.
Garment Specifications
- T-Shirt fabric is 100% high quality ultra soft cotton manufactured in Fukui, Japan
- Pants fabric is 100% performance polyester also manufactured in Fukui, Japan
- T-Shirts are available in black, white, lavender and lime-yellow, sizes are XS, S, M, L, XL
- Pants are available in black, white and purple , sizes are XS (67cm / 26"), S, M, L, XL (100cm / 39") and there are three leg lengths to choose from
- Made in Japan
/ Play
Visualization & Sonification
The synapseWear app features two output modes: data visualization (graphics) and sonification (audio). As you wear the device through the day, the app visualizes the physical data around you in constantly shifting formations.
- tetrahedron
- tectahedron
- octahedron
- pentahedron
- hexahedron
- small surface size
- large surface size
Design
In approaching the design of the data visualization we focused on the natural world, specifically crystals, for inspiration. Crystals are beautiful and ancient, and come in all shapes and sizes. They can be hidden in rocks or exposed in naked elegance. Crystals are used in jewelry but also in electronics as oscillators for watches and computers. Your crystal visualization will evolve both visually and sonically through daily use. What it looks/sounds like depends on the aggregated data collected from the environments you pass through. By zooming in on individual fragments you are taken into a metric mode allowing a detailed analysis of the data.
/ News
/ Code
iOS Source, Firmware, PCB Design (Eagle), etc.
Source Code/ Thanks
Backers, this is for you. Thank you.
Adah Parris, Aegir, Andrew (ClothBot) Plumb, Anna Vallgårda, aqui tomla, Awareness Lab, Benja, Boris in Berin, CW&T, Danielle Applestone, Despina Papadopoulos, Elie Zananiri, Hank Streeter, HealthCare Futurists, Hideyuki Ando, Jason Krugman, Jay Yu, Jeanne Reeder, Jessica Claire, Jonas Fritsch, Joshua To, K. Nagatsuka, Karmen Franinovic, Kasia Molga, kimberleyjean.b, Kohei Nojima, Konstantin Vatrenko, ksasao, Laurent, Maia Scott, Maria Julia Guimaraes, Martin "himdel" Hradil, Matthew Fargo, Michael Glaesemann, Mina Maeda, Mr. Shitstorm Blaster, Norman Jaffe, Produce Consume Robot, reina miyata, Richmond Lam, Robert McNeil, S. Phillips, Satoshi Omiya, Sebastian Ahoi, sicart, Stephen Little, Steve Huff, Steve Tuttle, Thierry, Tomoki Tachibana (Shed), Toshihiko Sakai, Troykyo, wendy bailey, XY Feng, Youichi Nishiyama, yuko hattori
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