Wearable Technology Studio – Bone Conduction Headset

The wearable technology studio introduces students to a research-based design approach where teams work with interdisciplinary project mentors from non-design backgrounds ranging from aerospace and mechanical engineering to health and medical professionals. Students are introduced to soft materials, smart textiles, and other technological advances in sensors and microcontrollers.

This project: the development of a Bone Conduction Headset with Hearing Protection for xEMU by students Giulio Roversi and Efe Gulboy was developed with NASA in response to their Wearable Technologies Challenge Day challenge, hosted by the Technology Collaboration Center.

Technology & Mobility Studio – BikeSense

The Technology and Mobility Studio at Pratt Institute, taught by Professor Rebeccah Pailes-Friedman, explores the intersection of technology, design, and human movement, focusing on innovative solutions that enhance mobility in all environments. Students engage in hands-on projects that integrate cutting-edge technologies to create products that address real-world challenges. Through a combination of research, ideation, prototyping, and testing, students developed a deep understanding of how technology can improve the safety, efficiency, and experience of movement in complex settings. 

This project, BikeSense, by students Brooks Butler & Mehul Bhargava, introduces a smart handlebar system that incorporates technology driven by user-centered design to enhance safety and awareness for cyclists in urban environments.

Portable Environments Studio – PPE Face Mask

Clothing is our own portable environment. This class researches and explores functional apparel, body-worn devices, and protective gear with a focus on mobility and using flexible textile-based materials. The COVID-19 pandemic is the single most important event of our lives today. It has and will continue to impact every single person on the planet. As designers, our job is to HELP. This class takes the opportunity to research, explore and innovate personal protective equipment. Protective clothing can be the barrier between life and death in many activities. Protective equipment is both designed and engineered, we will explore, identify and design portable environments.

This project, A Modular Face Mask, for An Active Lifestyle by Leo Zhang, aims at resolving potential discomfort faced by users, affecting their performance during exercise.

Wearable Technology Studio – Anti-G Trouser for Fighter Pilots

This studio introduces students to a research-based design approach where teams work with interdisciplinary project mentors from non-design backgrounds ranging from aerospace and mechanical engineering to health and medical professionals. Students will be introduced to soft materials, smart textiles, and other technological advances in sensors and microcontrollers.

This project: the development of Non-Pneumatic Anti-G trousers for Fat Jetfighter Pilots by students Sujie Lin, Eleanor Watson, Aron Lee was developed with Servitec, a military defense contractor in the UK.

Wearable Technology Studio – Psychophysical Perception

This studio introduces students to a research-based design approach where teams work with interdisciplinary project mentors from non-design backgrounds ranging from aerospace and mechanical engineering to health and medical professionals. Students will be introduced to soft materials, smart textiles, and other technological advances in sensors and microcontrollers.

 

This project Psychophysical Perception of Body-Suit Interactions by students Eugene Brukhman, Woody Wei, Alejandro Espina, used a sensory garment they designed to better understand the relationship between perceived and actual discomfort for astronauts.