Second Iterations: Touch Sensor

Revisiting Rosner's Spyn as well as the conversation with the grief counselor, I pivoted the project in two ways. First, inspired by Rosner, I decided to intervene in a crafting tool in order to keep the finished crafted artifact free of circuits and to maintain the cultural and practical integrity of paper piecing. Second, I wanted digital media to serve as a window for communal grieving in order to create space for the collective validation the counselor mentioned.

I prototyped a capacitive touch sensor unto a sewing template and ran code that turned on a light when touched. touch sensor didn’t cover the full surface area of the template, and its fixed placement meant users were limited to that single template shape. I also prototyped a container for EMMA's hardware components. By enhancing the tool, the exchange between maker and materials remained unaltered, and to maintain that balance of engagement, I considered a web connection could serve as visual output for the tactile input. This web interface would then serve a dual purpose: keep the handcrafted artifact free of circuits, and open a channel to communal grieving. Moreover, the output, depending on design, may add value to the quilting process by means of further facilitating a mindful experience, another design guideline.