The future of wearable technology is here. Mass markets are rapidly adapting and transitioning from portable (mobile phones, tablets) to wearable devices.

Wearables that live on, near or in our bodies give rise to a previously unimagined level of data about users and the environment. By enabling the connection of divergent data sets, wearables provide life-augmenting levels of interactivity that could benefit and enrich the ways that we understand individual and community wellbeing.

The inaugural Cloud Workshop challenges a selection of art and design students from the Asia-Pacific region to envision the future of wearable technology for the well-being of users. Projects will cast future scenarios for wearable technologies that harness the power of cloud computing to enrich connections between citizens of Australia and Hong Kong.

Details

The project will be run as a cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural activity consisting of Industrial and Product Design, Visual Arts, Interaction and Visual Design and Fashion Design students working in collaborative teams of 3-4 consisting of students from each institution.

Students will attend an intensive 6.5 day workshop led by the project coordinators. In the first two days students will be presented with theory and information relevant to the workshop theme and then they will have 2 weeks to collaborate, design and prototype future visions of wearable technologies that will answer the brief provided. They will be provided guidance by professional experts in various fields including design, arts, fashion, digital technologies and industry.

To conclude, an exhibition will be held at both locations simultaneously to present the cutting-edge ideas and showcase the work to the community.

HIF Cloud workshop is brought to you by the AVA Wearables Lab, Hong Kong Baptist University in partnership with School of Design, Queensland University of Technology and Queensland College of Art, Griffith University. It is an undergraduate version of the Haptic InterFace workshop.