Wallpaper 6

(^01)
THE CONCEPT ‘AURA’
POWERED CLOTHING SUIT
IS MADE OF COTTON
AND SYNTHETIC JERSEY
(^02)
A V-SHAPED BAND
KEEPS THE SUIT SNUG
AGAINST THE BODY
(^03)
POWER CENTRES ARE HOUSED
IN HEXAGONAL SHELLS WITH
AN ORIGAMI-LIKE FABRIC
THAT ALLOWS THE SUIT TO
GROW OR SHRINK TO MEET
THE WEARER’S NEEDS
If the Bitcoin Miner represents undesigned, raw
technology, Seismic’s super suit lies at the other end
of the aesthetic spectrum, encasing futuristic tech
inside familiar shells. ‘For me, the future of wearable
tech, robots and smart environments lies in how
technology is in the background, a non-interruptive
experience in the flow of our life,’ says Yves Béhar,
who designed the suit in collaboration with new
specialist company Seismic. ‘The suit represents how
technology should be worn rather than displayed,
and integrated into our everyday lives in ways that
are discreet and personal.’
Made from lightweight and flexible material,
and intended to be worn under everyday clothes,
the ‘Aura’ powered clothing is ‘an early conceptual
design of an electronic exoskeleton’, explains
Rich Mahoney, CEO of Seismic. Marketed towards
an older audience, it is integrated with sensors that
react to the body’s movements, offering extended
muscle power to the wearer, assisting with actions
such as getting up, staying upright or sitting down.
‘Since this initial concept, Seismic has progressed
significantly with both the technical development
and design,’ adds Mahoney; expect the new-look
suits to be on the market later this year.
myseismic.com
YVES BÉHAR AND SEISMIC
POWERED
CLOTHING
01
03
02
Established in 2015, Refugee Open Ware
(ROW) aims to encourage innovation
in conflict-torn countries, and provide
the tools, training and skills to teach
displaced people how to digitally
fabricate the things they need. One
of its many endeavours is to invest in
businesses that 3D-print prosthetic
limbs cheaply and effectively.
This model is a replica of a
prosthetic hand co-designed with
a six-year-old Yemeni refugee, who
was badly burned in a house fire.
‘Prosthetic devices are highly
personal. Additive manufacturing
simply allows a new medium for the
creator to expand the intimate
relationship between user and device,’
explains Adam Arabian, associate
professor of engineering at Seattle
Pacific University, who worked on the
design. ‘This object represents the
ability of a global community to
convene and solve challenging –
and often very unique – problems.’
After extensive interviews with
the child, the ROW team 3D-printed
a prosthetic hand in ABS plastic,
customising a Flexy-Hand by British
mechanical design specialist
Gyrobot with branding from the
child’s favourite television show.
row3d.org
REFUGEE OPEN WARE
3D-PRINTED
PROSTHETIC HAND
∑ 107
Technology