I've decorated three denim jackets with LEDs to bring as an installation for the CETI institute in the #portlandwinterlightfestival . The CETI installations will be displayed in an abandoned GAP storefront, so this project feels particularly appropriate. Just got the basic animation working for the rain cloud jacket, and hope to find time to enhance it.
This clock jacket, which, in the video, is just showing random numbers and counting, was a challenge because I had to get the denim jacket into my laser cutter. I like the look, but I'm still trying to figure out what to display on it besides the time.
@abetusk they are still works in progress so I haven't written about them specifically, though the diffused LED decorations use the same technique as the LED bag project ("Bag to the Future") I wrote up for Make: magazine in Vol. 87
@steve yeah, though a position display doesn't have much dynamic range there if I'm just walking around. I think the jacket looks most interesting when the digits are changing, which is why, if it's going to show a clock, I wanted a seconds display.
@geekmomprojects I see. A clock is an obvious option, as you say. But obvious can be a bit… well. Whereas something which is changing in an unfamiliar pattern would more likely spark curiosity. There are various environmental readings you could display (heat, humidity, sound, illumination etc) or biometric (heart rate, step counts etc). Or just scroll the numbers of Pi and leave everyone guessing 😂
@alpenglow thank you! I had two of the jackets at home because I had done some previous experiments with denim jacket wearables and developed a habit of picking up inexpensive denim jackets when I encountered them (Old Navy and Costco are good sources), and right when I started these builds I got two on sale from Macy's for less than $20 each. No thrifting involved, I'm afraid, but I still have one jacket left to play with when I have a bit more time.
@geekmomprojects I love that you were already stashing jean jackets for possible wearable projects. I have this vision of a superhero-style closet filled with LEDs, jean jackets, and copious accessories where you go to change into GeekMom every morning.
@CodieneC I love that!!! However, I learned my lesson about what's appropriate to display on wearables at a protest march where I had a particularly profane message scrolling on my bag, and noticed two small kids, for whom it was at eye level, staring wide eyed at it. I've kept it PG-rated ever since.
@geekmomprojects I think it would be funny to have one just blink 12:00:00 like an old unset VCR. You will get a certain demographic to either laugh or try to program you. The younger ones will not get it.
@jbarnoud you could hand wash them in cold water if the controller was kept out of the water, which is possible since the controller isn't sewn in, but sits in a pocket along with the battery pack. The solder joints wouldn't stand up to machine washing, and the hot glue won't stand up to hot water, but the jacket can be cleaned.
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