Field Computing: Wearable Devices for Citizen Science

"Field Computing", is an ongoing interdisciplinary research project to design and build wearable devices for use in citizen science applications. The works from this project is derived from the fields of wearable electronics, citizen science and environmental biomonitoring through a critical design perspective. Background and prior research is shared that discusses considerations for technology and design, along with documentation and description of Portable Workspace, an initial project for "Field Computing". Portable Workspace is a wearable that unfolds into a physical computing studio for building hardware in outdoor environments. The current work in progress, Data HarVest, is a wearable tool that collects physical artifacts and contextual data about fungi for scientific surveys. Early prototypes for this tool are then discussed along with design considerations.