Parsons Student Birce Ozkan (MFA DT ’15)’ “Augmented Skirt” has been published on Adafruit’s Wearable Wednesday, presented at NYC Media Lab Annual Summit and mentioned in the Huffington Post;

The garment appropriates the migration method of birds, known for being excellent navigators. Birds have a built-in biological compass to tell them which direction to fly based on variations in the earth’s magnetic field. For her thesis, Birce wanted to make a series of fashionable wearable technologies based on futuristic scenarios that find new connections between the body and various landscapes by stimulating sensory system to fulfill nostalgic memories of nature. These wearables are tools to address the problems of what happens when humans become disconnected with nature.

In order to do this, Augmented Skirt has embedded electronics, including a microcontroller, servo motors and an electronic compass that measures earth’s magnetic field, which is adjusted to detect north. If the wearer walks towards the correct cardinal direction, an array of feathers connected to the 2-servo motors rise, else the feathers go down and stop moving. The piece serves as a metaphor, which highlights a method of appropriation where the human nature is enhanced through the process of bio-mimicry.

“Augmented Skirt” was a final project for her Major Studio2 class and will be featured at Make: Wearables Projects on the Runway at Engadget Expand.

Make: Wearables Projects on the Runway at Engadget Expand

Register for the event here.

Birce says of her work and art practice, “My work and projects focus on discussing the psychology of interactivity on the body, combining technology, fashion, science, politics and art. My major interests in material research, fashionable wearable technology, critical and creative design. For my thesis, I want to make a series of fashionable wearable technologies based on futuristic scenarios that find new connections between the body and various landscapes by stimulating sensory system to fulfill nostalgic memories of nature. These wearables are tools to address the problems of what happens when humans become disconnected with nature. The faculty and peers played really important role during my process of creating the project.”

You can see Augmented Skirt in action here.

Find out more about Brice Ozkan at www.mbirceozkan.com