VIPPSTAR - Smart T-shirt for VI

The VIPPSTAR smart wearable strand explores how wearable technology (in this case a smart t-shirt) can support physical activity and body awareness among visually impaired children and adolescents. Developed by our Italian partner Comftech , the garment builds on textile sensors that track heart rate, breathing and movement, and adds small modules that give feedback through gentle vibration or sound. Vibration can reach the wearer privately without masking the everyday sounds that visually impaired people rely on to orient themselves, for example to prompt a change in posture or to guide breathing during an exercise game.

The Interaction Design Centre contributes research and exploratory co-design with consortium partners, including Comftech and the University of Trento. Our work considers how sensing and feedback technology might fit into clothing that young people find comfortable, understandable and useful in everyday life, sport and play. Hands-on design workshops and tactile/audible design kits are used to support children and adolescent explore novel scenarios of use. The aim is to connect technical possibilities with everyday experiences, so that future prototypes can be explored and refined with young people and their families.

If you are interested to partake or just like to know more, do not hesitate to contact us

People: Cristiano Storni, Siddharth Gulati

Funding. European Union, Horizon Europe, Grant Agreement No. 101156763