Thou and I: Exploring Expressive Digital Interaction with Interactive Characteristic Wigs

Abstract

My project involves the construction of a series of experimental wearable digital technologies as expressive wigs. These wigs are designed to explore the interactions of the wearers and the spectators as the wig moves in elaborate ways to highlight the realms of aesthetic value and sensory experience. The participants are provoked, they are engaged, they are compelled into a state of awareness and curiosity while the digital object constitutes novel experiences that coincide with anthropomorphic interactivity. Furthermore, the expressive value of a digital object is turned inwards as it becomes an extension of the self and a source of multi-sensory communication. Ultimately, the digital object seeks to open a social dialogue on the aesthetic purpose of technology by encouraging people to extend their imagination through bodily interaction. Here the digital object enables the wearers to create engaging narratives and provocative expressions.