Doki Doki: A Modular Wearable for Social Interaction in the COVID Era and Beyond

Abstract

Doki Doki [fig 1] is a responsive, emotive wearable created as speculative research. It exists to reimagine how we might approach our usual attitudes and rituals of social interaction via nonverbal communication in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic. The garment takes physiological and environmental data, and visualises it as cues for use during social or other encounters. The artefact is modular, incorporating a plug and play circuit board for sustainability. This allows for sensors and actuators to be exchanged or reused, and code updated, depending on requirements. The development and usage of the device contributes to the discussion of how and why we might use data driven wearable technology to aid us in social interaction during the pandemic and beyond.