Testing print, fabric, PWM combo

This video shows the steps in building a sample of one of the reactive squares. These squares will be assembled into a completed story quilt.

Sketch of the interface

Sketch of the interface

This is the most recent draft of my interface sketch. The story begins in the upper left corner with the title of the story embroidered in the quilt. The viewer’s eye follows the path along the river to the end of the story. This layout is based on the Trade and Commerce Quilt by Hannah Stockton Stiles.

After the quilt’s viewers arrive ad the final scene of  the narrative, they are given the prompt “What happened?” accompanied by a group of animal icons and a hand.

This is meant to communicate to the viewer that they are supposed to touch the animal icons. At this point in the interaction model, the viewer should begin reexamining the narrative while pressing the animal icons where they appear in the key scenes of quilt. This will trigger the embedded LEDs and, in turn, reveal hidden narrative elements embedded in the center of the quilt.

Fall Final Prototype – testing

This clip shows some of the interaction testing I ran on my final prototype for the fall semester.

(music by Nico Muhly)

Final Prototype for Fall Semester

 

Prototype

Above is a photo of the prototype I created at the end of the fall semester. My goal in creating this prototype, was to experiment with some of the techniques I have been talking about incorporating into my interactive story quilt. This included quilting methods as well as integration of technologies into the quilted square. 

I thought of this prototype as a rough sketch and was more concerned with completing it than the narrative and aesthetic components. 

Below is an image of the circuit that was embedded into this prototype. 

 

 

Circuit

Shadow test

I’m working on perfecting this technique. This test was to determine if this type of method could work in my quilt.

User Testing for Display Options

After this round of testing, I realize that a hanging quilt will work best.

Thanks to Steve, Matt, and Kerry Willig, Amelia Wolfe and John.

Notes on story and display

Screen print tests

Today I broke out my screen printing materials. I ran some sample prints using both a standard red screen ink and some red to transparent thermochromic ink. I really enjoyed making the prints and a few of them came out pretty well. I tested several different fabric types. For a couple prints I drew a diamond ring in the  the woman’s silouette with a black sharpie and then printed the thermochromic ink on top of it. The ink was not thick enough to cover up the black ink, but I plan on testing this technique again with plain red ink or thread.

Tom Dooley storyboard

Twa Sisters storyboard