Rapid prototyping technology now allows us to ‘grow’ the form of an object directly from a digital format. Skin explores this potential by investigating how physical parts of a human body can be digitized using 3D scanning to uniquely influence the form and function of an individual’s product. Skin also questions how sophisticated products can become more immersed with the complexities of human form and function. The result is a set of unified products that are digitally influenced by the unique and organic form of the user. These devices work with specific senses of the human body: touch, hearing and sight. For more details on this project click on the following link Skin Workbook by Jamie Mayne

A contact lens is designed to superimpose a visual interface over a person’s plain sight. This concept is a slight leap forward into the future with scientific research showing promising results. The technology opens up gates for massive change in the understanding of interface, entertainment, communication and even health regulation. Microscopic LEDs will allow for video to relay over the eye and focus imagery into the user’s field of view. This lens will also help to regulate one’s own health in regard to vision. For more information on this technology follow the link National Geographic News

Skin proposes to Sony that its Store will become a base to scan one’s own body into a system specifically created by the company. A 3D object scanner will be used to record the unique shape of one’s own ear and facial structure. This information will be streamed into a Website where one can access their own profile and manipulate the form and function of their earpiece around their own ear before purchase. This earpiece is a valuable skin of technology. It can decrease or enhance hearing, play music, be used for communication and provide the sound for video which is all viewed and monitored through the contact lens. It is connected wirelessly via Bluetooth technology to the contact lens and rings.

A users hand will be 3D scanned as well as tested for the fitting of multiple rings at the Sony Store. This is necessary as two rotating rings are required on a single finger to control the interface between the contact lens and the earpiece. Vision, Hearing and Touch are three senses that are absolutely necessary for the function of Sony Skin. The devices cannot work without each other. Like the earpiece, the rings can be manipulated by the user on their Sony Skin Profile to suit their physical shape, size, personality and identity. All devices will be manufactured using Stereolithography to encase the componentry.

This Work is a result of Victoria Universities Design Led Futures Programme. The concept of the ‘singularity’ (the point at which a computer processing power equals and surpasses that of a human brain) opens up the gates for massive changes in the understanding of our world, and the developments in technology that this will bring. Through a movie presentation at the New Zealand Film Archive the team Being Human revealed a glimpse of a future where digital intelligence was biologically merged with the human body.

“Warmth” is Maynes response to the question of how Humanity will be clothed and protected in the future using BeingHumans theoretical grounding. A study into the trends of Biotechnology and Nanotechnology resulted in a concept proposing a sustainable layer of insulation that would be physically grown from the pores of skin providing warmth, protection and even architecture.

The team BeingHuman consisted of Jamie Mayne, Gina Rawlings, Paul Stevenson, Rory Rackham, Ashlee Jones, Juliette Wanty and Tania Hockings. An article titled Vic design students push possible boundaries by Daniel Simmons Ritchie was featured in the Wellingtonian in June 2009

In BeingHuman Jamie Mayne also proposed that in the future Nanoparticles or ‘foglets’ will have the ability to form around the human body. A frequency may be emitted from ones body attracting billions of particles and allowing a physical structure or ‘shell’ to form. These particles will be at one with nature; if they are not sheltering or protecting the human body they will blend into the surrounding environment and take on no physical appearance. The structure formed around ones body will be reminiscent of their own identity.  The structure will move with the human body and the density of the particles will vary depending on ones choice. If it’s raining a human will be kept dry, if it’s beautiful weather they can allow the breeze to enter while still maintaining their own personal space.

When one is with another person their ‘shelter’ will be able to merge. Together humans will be able to control the amount of personal space they have with each other. As more people come together the architecture will take on more complexity and beauty as individual identities combine. At the same time they will have a choice as to who they want to include within their personal space by controlling the density of their own structure. A human in 2049 will also have the ability to leave their architecture behind; to step out of the structure then step back in. If they leave it for a long period of time the nanoparticles will break away and become one with nature again – total sustainability. To find out more about this concept follow the link BeingHuman/Workbook.pdf