For the third and final project, I am going to focus on utilizing discarded tech.  My original proposal (seen below), ties together  final projects for both ICM and Cybernetics of Sex.  For this project, I proposed taking a set of electro-stimulation toys that I had and re-purposing them into a version of the game Operation.  After testing out the feeling of the electronic current on my hands, I have decided to go in a different direction.  I will, however, breakdown my initial proposal below.  Instead of re-purposing old sex toys, I will focus on re-purposing something I am sure we all either have on hand or have thrown away: headphones. 

I propose creating a swatch of fabric where the speakers from headphone will be attached.  I will use a sensor (most likely a photo sensor) to send a message to the Arduino which will then produce a sound in the speaker.  I envision a garment covered in these speakers and sensors where, as someone passes by, the speakers will emit a sound out of the speaker closest to the passerby.  This idea was  influenced by Daniel Rozin’s mechanical mirror work.  What if instead of a mechanical reaction, there was a sound reaction as someone moved in front of the sensor?  This is what I want to explore.   

Recycled Operation:

This project will utilize retired sex toys from my own collection to create an interactive game of Operation.  I will use the mechanisms from these toys to create a wearable device (glove, bracelet or rings) that will shock the wearer as they try to harvest the organs without touching the perimeter of the cavity.  The game will be built in p5.js using the Handpose library (ML5), as well as a laptop camera, to detect the parts of the hand.  The user will wearer this device while playing the game.  When the hand reaches the boundary of the cavity, a signal will be sent to from the Arduino to the device which will shot the wearer in the area designated by the p5 sketch. 

In addition to the fabrication and safety concerns that are present when working with shocking someone, there are also sanitary concerns due to the use of previously used sex toys.   For this mock up, there is less concern as I will be the only user.  However, this is a concern if I was to involve others in the process.  In my project for Cybernetics of Sex, I do plan on researching ways of sanitizing these toys for reuse as well as any regulations that might pose an issue in scaling this project. 

During the project presentation, there were concerns with safety, as noted above, as well as use.  Would someone want to get shocked?  How would the user gauge if the shock will be tolerable enough to continue to play?  It was also suggested to look at using other actuators (servo motor perhaps) instead of shocking someone.   Also, there is the challenge of building a 3D game within a 2D program.  This idea lends itself more to virtual reality. 

As noted above, I have decided to develop this project o paper for my Cybernetics of Sex class and to, instead, build the following sound project. 

Wearable Sound Matrix:

Currently, I have 5 pairs of Apple ear-pods that are no longer useful in their current state.  I will be disassembling them to make a wearable sound array. 

While doing research for this project, I found iFixIt to be very helpful in tearing down the ear pods.

This project will require researching how to take headphones apart without damaging the components, what are they made of and how to reuse them.  As I am interested in the reuse of all components of the headphones, I will also research the use of not just the speakers but of the other components that make of the headphones.  My goal is to use all the parts in some fashion.  If not, I will figure out how to best recycle the items as well. 

I am excited by the research and experimentation that this project requires and look forward to seeing it come to fruition.