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SELF INTRO & MOVIES
Grace Jun.
INTRO
As a designer and strategist in the Mobile Design Strategy group at Samsung Electronics
Headquarters for five years, I regularly engage in communication roles. Communication
responsibilities that included writing press releases for annual mobile conventions, and
presenting the company’s design strategy to customers, partners, and subsidiaries across the
world. My experiences focused on consulting decisions for communicating design concepts.
Preparation materials, articulating key messages, and identifying opportunities for design
growth, were among the other experiences I’ve carried in the mobile division. My skills are in
UX GUI design, user-centered research, graphics, and typography. My foundation in Graphic
Design and internships in textiles or fashion industry, has influenced my choice to attend
Parsons MFA Design & Technology program. I aspire to create and research wearable
technology in particular, focusing on education.
FIVE MOVIES WITH WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY
Five movies that depict wearables are the following: Her, Enders Game, Total Recall, X-men, &
Jupiter Ascending. A common element across all the movies are the integration of wearables
with the surrounding sci-fi environment. Wearable technology is indefinitely influence by the
cultural an social environments of it’s users.
Her
The subway scene of people speaking out loud without the use of cellphone. The immersive
environment and technology of embedded electronics are seamless.
Enders Game
The scene of their first gravity cockpit fight. All the children had to wear gravity suits that let
them float in space for training.
Total Recall 2012
The social norm of phone-chips embedded in the skin. The scene of Douglas Quaid (Colin
Farrell) ripping out his embedded chip from his arm, to prevent the military from tracking
him.
X-men first class
Cyclops eye gear for control of his superpower (laser eye-beams) is influenced by the
environment he is in.
Jupiter Ascending
The scene of Caine (Channing Tatum) with the flying boots that let’s him float in mid-air. He
uses it to beam up to the spaceship. Again, wearables as a form of integrated transportation.
400 WORD ESSAY READING RESPONSE
Feb 20, 2015
Reflection on readings regarding Wearable Technology & Mobile
The intersection of mobile and wearable technologies have deep historic roots that intertwine
and weave into each other. There are common threads between mobile and wearable
technology since the 17th century: “Pocket watches [not only] provide the closest historical
parallel to the remarkable rise of mobile cellular phones,” but also a pivotal point of fashion
accessories in the making of fine jewelry and watches [1]. From the early Type 300 dial-up
telephones to the 1990s FireFly Dress by Maggie Orth, the blurring of physical objects and
invisible data has been a ongoing affair [2]. But wearable technology and mobile are physical
representations of a greater driving force: data.
The culture of data, cultivation of data, and design of data are core driving forces of future
electronics [3]. Whether the electronics cross over to fashion to health, the data behind each
service and product will be crucial. Sarah Scaturro recalls the conflicting of wearable
technology and the harvesting of data from Iris van Herpen’s 3D printed “Skeleton Dress” in
2012: Can we collect the code? Is the code the object? Is this the object? [5]. The most obvious
contradictions of data comes from culture which, is exemplified by the mobile phone. “The
phone might be an international conglomerate, but it was put together in difference ways in
different countries” [1].
The designing of data is a focal point for future (UX) user experience designers. The
experience, strategies, and methods of understanding the consequences and effects of data
will only empower design language. Most importantly, a designer’s intention on cultivating
data sets. What will this data be used for? Will data be used to drive mankind out of
employment by replacing jobs. Will data help educate a new generation of technology and
craftsmanship?
Sources:
1. Agar, Jon. Constant Touch: A Global History of the Mobile Phone. Copyright 2003, 2013 by Jon
Agar
2. Fiberscene. Firefly Dress and Necklace 1997 by Maggie Orth. S . Online at http://
www.fiberscene.com/galleries/g_images23/orth24.html. Copyright ©2006 FiberScene
3. Gibbs, Samuel. The Future of Wearable Technology is Not Wearables- It’s Analyzing the Data.
The Guardian. Online at http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/jan/06/futurewearable-technology-analysing-data
4. Seymour, Sabine & Amitai, Paul. Eyebeam. Computational Fashion. Copyright 2014.
pg 93-94
RESPONSE TO MATERIAL CONNEXION TRIP
Writing on 3 materials
Material 1: Hanji Paper
Hanji is extremely resilient and flexible. The material can be used
to make sculptures, clothing, and even traditional doors for
Korean houses. The material also has restorative properties such
as, restoring torn old books.
Material 2: 100% recycled silk
Recycled silk scraps from sari manufacturing facilities, usually in
India or Nepal. Where most factories just throw out or burn the
fabric scraps, the silk is recycled into multiple colors.
Material 3: Bioplastic/ Resin
Common plastics, like fossil-fuel plastics are petrol-based
polymers. Bio plastics are biodegradable and less harmful to the
environment. They are also recyclable and can be made at home.
QUANTITATIVE QUESTIONS
Bioplastics for 3D printing & Wearable Technology
The Proposal
My proposal and research is focused on examining and creating bioplastics. The applicational
possibilities for bioplastics can be an alternative material solution for 3D printing, in contrast
the harmful petroleum based synthetics plastics used today. The 3D printing of wearable and
fashionable technology designs can not only be biodegradable but, carry intrinsic properties
of bioplastics that can encourages creative possibilities in materials for designing on the body.
The Hypothesis
Can bioplastics be created to be alternatives for synthetics fossil fuel plastics for 3D printing?
Moreover, can bioplastic 3D printing encourage creative applications in wearable and
fashionable technology such as, 3D printed accessories or garments that are based on natural
resources?
Quantitative
(Focused Questions)
Why use bioplastics for design applications in 3D printing than, synthetic plastics?
What perceptions will change if bioplastics are used?
Do you think people will create or purchase 3D printed designs differently, if they knew it was
natural/ biodegradable?
What is the demographic scope of bioplastic 3D printing? (users: manufactoers/ designers/
material scientists?) What group do you think will use and benefit the most?
(Overarching Questions)
How many people do you predict will would use 3D printing with bioplastics? (regular basis)
Will 3D printing companies be willing to use bioplastics as an alternative?
What are the cost factors and difficulties of production for companies to use as a mass
filament?
Can designers and creative technologists benefit from using biodegradable 3D printing?
Will designers use (if so, how often) 3D printing for prototyping or creating products?
What are the connotations or associated perceptions of bioplastic 3D printed wearable
technology vs. synthetic plastics?
What are the design limitations and creative possibilities of printing in a natural material with
a short shelf-life?
Bioplastics for Wearable Technology
Grace Jun
Design & Technology, Parsons
6 E. 16th St., 12th floor, New York, NY 10011
email: [email protected]
ABSTRACT
The revival of bioplastics is more prominent today in
wearable technology as it has been in past applications for
design. New materials such as, “TFT elastic skin and etextiles have been crucial” to envisioning the future of
wearable technology” [1]. Bio-materials have been an
optimal solution for several material manufacturing use
case companies such as, Bio-in, Serria Resins, and the
Whole Foods sold bio-containers from Quantum Designs.
The permanent increase in bioplastic production capacity is
anticipated based on the limited global resources on our
planet [3]. This paper advocates bioplastics as an vital
component to the future of wearable technology or
fashionable technology with an emphasis on biodegradable
design processes.
Figure 1. Home-made bio- plastic prototype
problematic. H&M and C&A are quick to discuss energy
efficiency in their stores, increased recycling of clothing
hangers, and their shift towards organic cotton. ” [4]. The
possibilities of bioplastics can be introduced in the
sustainability of fashion because of it’s ease to create in
everyday kitchens and it’s innate properties as a mixture.
The flexibility and durability of bioplastics are remarkable
and dependent on the cooking process. Bio-plastics can be
made in homes and everyday kitchens using tapioca flour,
glycerine, water, and white vinegar. [Figure 1].
Keywords
material technology, polymers, kombucha, bioplastic,
biomaterials, circuit board, wearable technology,
fashionable aesthetics, bio computation
INTRODUCTION
“The first plastics were made by using biomaterials, such as
cellulose, casein or soy. These materials were partially
forgotten after the possibility of obtaining plastics from
petroleum and natural gas was discovered” [2]. The revival
for sustainable and renewable materials is detrimental to
the fashion industry especially when mass commercialized
fashion is becoming more affordable. “Cheap fashion,
however, has a cost. The World Wildlife Fund has
estimated that it takes 8,500 litres (2,245 gallons) to raise
1kg (2.2 pounds) of cotton lint – enough to make one pair
of blue jeans. Further complicating the sustainability of the
global fashion industry is that recycling textiles is
ORIGINS OF BIOPLASTIC
The origins of bioplastics can be traced back to natural
resins seen in ancient Roman amber, a fossil resin [5]. “The
first known
modern bioplastic, polyhydroxybutyrate
(PHB), was discovered in 1926 by a French researcher,
Maurice Lemoigne, from his work with the bacterium
Bacillus megaterium” [6]. The study of bioplastics in
particular, polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), has already
gained traction from companies trying to decrease the total
consumption of petroleum based plastics today. The focus
on biomaterials are deeply influenced by the deteriorating
condition of our environment and our addiction to fossil
fuels such as, petroleum.
Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part of this work for
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October 4, 2014, New York, New York, USA.
Copyright 2014 Grace Jun
PLASTIC & THE ENVIRONMENT
There is a floating island of waste and garbage piles: The
Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a collection of marine debris
in the North Pacific Ocean. The island is not man-made.
The island was formed by the overabundance of trash or
marine debris that has naturally collected by currents of the
gyre. “The amount of debris in the Great Pacific Garbage
Patch accumulates because much of it is not biodegradable.
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Many plastics, for instance, do not wear down; they simply
break into tinier and tinier pieces” [7]. The alarming
existence of such an island is an indication that plastics are
one of the leading contributors to the pollution of the
Earth’s oceans.
In particular, “starch is one of the most attractive feedstock
for the development of biodegradable polymers because it
is relatively inexpensive, abundant and renewable” [9].
Starch can contribute to the development of the
commercialized bio-plastics for the fashion industry. Gucci
had already launched it’s bioplastic flats for the Prefall
2012 collection [Figure 2 right] For example, Prada’s
plastic bag series in 1997 could sustainable to more
sustainable bioplastics [10]. The plastic handles and body
can be replaced by bioplastics mixed with agar. Agar
bioplastics create a solid an resistant materials with tough
skin as in the startup company, founded by Chelsea
Briganti and Leigh Ann Tucker, who’ve launched a
"biodegredible" – biodegradable and edible – cup [11,
Figure 2 left]
Figure 2. Edible packaging & Bioplastic Gucci
Shoes
Bioplastic for Wearable & Fashionable Technology
Most of today’s synthetic plastics today use petroleum.
“The transportation is the most obvious sector in decreasing
the society's dependence on petroleum for energy. A variety
of alternative fuels such as, ethanol, biodiesel (made from
vegetable oil), and hydrogen produce little or no exhaust
pollutants or greenhouse gases, and each derives from
plentiful renewable resources’’ [8].
The development of the smart or “intelligent” garments
provide greater versatility for designs that incorporates
sensing, recording, or information-processing devices such
as, micro controllers. The technologies developed for Etextiles and nano-technology is continuously driving the
current growth of wearable technology and fashionable
technology. Design conscious choices for smart materials
and new wearable technologies will also encompass
materials that are naturally intelligent. Some examples of
intelligent materials are bamboo, wool, and bioplastic. So
why can’t designers and technologist create new wearable
and fashionable technologies utilizing bioplastics?
FASHION & MANUFACTURING TEXTILES
Although the transportation industry has embraced hybrid
cars and created alternative strategies against utilizing
petroleum, there are still other sectors where technology
and energy consumption will play a vital role.
Bioplastics are already applied to textiles, clothing, and
“It takes about 500 gallons of water to produce enough
fabric to cover one sofa. Half a billion people already live
in regions prone to chronic drought, and by 2025, that
number is likely to have increased five-fold, to between
one-third and one-half of the entire world population” [9].
Figure 3. process from cornstarch
http://www2.dupont.com/Sorona_Microsite/en_AU/assets/from_corn_to_clothing.jpg
even accessories [Figure 3]. For example, the “Raincoat,
named Rain Poncho, a product of the Spanish company
Equilicua, is an appropriate example of bioplastic
protective clothing produced from potato starch” [12]. The
rain poncho is non-toxic and is comprised of
The detrimental effects of water consumption and pollution
further advocates a need for recyclable or biodegradable
materials. Why can’t society increase the production and
use of bioplastics for fashion? With the rise of Maker
moments, DIY kits, and 3D Makerbot printer, there is an
increase in rapid technology practices that utilize plastics.
Is there a way to 3D print fashionable technology garments
with bioplastics?
Bioplastic fashionable applications and product design
Three possible bioplastic materials that can be used for
product designs and textiles in the near future are the
following: polylactides (PLA), poly(hydroxy-alkanoates)
(PHA), poly(hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), and bio-polyamide
(bio-PA), thermoplastics based on casein (milk protein) and
planted products: soy, kenaf, jute, silk, etc” [2].
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Mediterranean. Even the French fashion company Lacoste
has developed a protective bicycle helmet that utilizes
bioplastic material for helmet armor and cork for the inner
layer [12]. The social movement for environment conscious
materials, fashions, and manufacturing techniques was
show cased at large for fashion week since 2009 with
leading companies such as, The GreenShows LLC (TGS)
[13]. Green fashion has already gained momentum with
leaders such as, Stella McCartney’s 50% vegetable oil and
a renewable natural material bags and Issay Miyaki’s ecofriendly ready-wear line [14, 15].
Other examples that can substitute for bioplastics are the
Kombucha garments created by Suzanne Lee [Figure 4].
Bio-couture website]. Her experiments on creating dresses
made of Kombucha, a type of fermented drink made with
tea, sugar, bacteria and yeast, has exposed an innovative
idea: growing fashionable fabric and vegetable leather [16].
The need for alternative resources is inevitable. Artist and
bio-technologist, Phil Ross, declares “nylon will not last for
long because the dying process consumes gallons of
water” [17]. He advocates bio-fabrication through fungus
as an intermediary layer between environment and skin; a
living matter or wearable organism: “Colors can be
generated by bacteria and fungus bacteria can even
metabolize your vitamins or provide personalized medicine.
Thus, living clothing is a future that encompasses
biomaterials as possible form factors for fashionable or
wearable technology.
Figure 4. Richard Wool’s Foodscapes Project: Bioplastic
circuit boards
The possibilities for bioplastic circuitboards present an
opportunity for wearable technologies to be sustainable and
less harmful to the environment. Although, a bioplastic
circuits cannot compensate for an entire hardware system,
disposing a micro controller is already a solution to half the
waste. Other wastes such as, small resistors, wires, or
sensors will need an equivalent metal material that is less
damaging like bioplastic.
Silver circuit pens can write on homemade bioplastics to
create circuits that use the Arduino micro-controllers with
conductive glue. The possibilities of bioplastic circuit
boards are dependent on the bioplastic material in
combination of ingredients. Ingredients in addition to the
basic bioplastic recipe (corn starch, white vinegar, water,
and glycerin) can provide greater hardness in texture and
substance such as agar powder, a jelly-like substance that is
obtained from algae. Because starch is a mixture and not a
compound, the combination of ingredients that result in
greater thickness and durability of bioplastic can be formed.
“The Italian company Bio-on, creates a biodegradable
polymer that can be used as a substrate for electrical
circuits. The organization are testing to find alternative
materials for electronic devices using a formulate bacteria
and sugar of beet waste” [19]. MIT- patented bioplastics
have been used by Oliver People’s and have predicted a
“growing interest that consumers are now ready for
bioplastics. For example, bioplastics that are commercially
available in the form of plastic cups, bottles and food
packaging [20]
Figure 4. Suzanne Lee, Bio-Couture
BIOPLASTICS FOR HARDWARE & ELECTRONICS
The research and creation of bioplastics for circuitboards
are prominent in the works of Dr. Richard Wool at the
University of Delaware and his lab project called
Foodscapes, include projects such as, circuit boards made
with food. His bioplastics are created by soya-bean oils
with a glass-fibre substitute using chicken feathers. The
keratin in chicken feathers are an equivalent strength as the
keratin found in human nails [18, Figure 5].
Bioplastics & Heat testing
Similarly to MIT’s research on corn based plastics, “a type
of plastic called polylactic acid (PLA) (which is also
produced from corn) is similar to PHA, but PHA has higher
heat resistance” [20]. Tests on heat resistance can be
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created with home-made bioplastics depending on the level
of cornstarch added to the mixture. The amount of corn
start and correlating heat temperature can be used to test the
“shelf-life” of how long a bioplastic can last without
degrading.
can’t designers utilize natural plastics that can be
biodegradable?
CONCLUSION
Bioplastics in combination with other materials can provide
innovative and environment-conscience creations. The use
of bioplastics as a substitute for harmful chemicals,
electronics, and material manufacturing productions, will
strongly impact the growth of wearable technology as a
dependable renewable resource. 3D printing, connectivity,
and the use of elastic e-textiles are among the few possible
technological application for bioplastics.
3D-PRINTING & PLASTIC ALTERNATIVES
Fabrication and heat play a vital role in manufacturing
companies that are testing and producing bioplastics.
Biomaterial companies such as the Quantum Designs and
their WholeFood’s plastic packaging products or the Italian
based lab and company, Bio-in, have been pioneering the
renewal for biomaterials. “ Bio-on directly targets the
food-processing sector (production and distribution), design
and clothing. It provides all players with the technology
required to produce and use PHAs in line with their own
characterizations making bioplastics highly desirable
materials for fabrication into biodegradable bottles and
packaging” [21].
With the emergence of Makersfaires, labs, and DIY
practices, 3D printing has become a large investment
section of the technology industry. Can bioplastics replace
synthetic plastics used by 3D printers such as, MakerBot?
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thank you to Dr. Sabine Seymour for encouraging my
curiosities an professor Dave Carroll, for helping me flush
out a clear mental model through research and analysis.
Finally, thank you Alice Chun for teaching me the basic on
cooking my own bioplastics.
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clothing and accessories, not a distinct separate device. The
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