Future cities will float on water

It may seem like science fiction, but as rising sea levels threaten low-lying nations around the world, floating cities may become more common. This is the american scientist’s argument to rise money to build such SF cities, writes The Guardian. 

 

The Seasteading Institute proposes a series of floating villages – and claims to be in active negotiations with potential host nations.

At first the villages would aggregate in protected waters. You could extend an existing city like London into the water quite far before ever being seriously challenged by infrastructure issues. Later, they would cut ties with land altogether.

The future is closer than we thought - Amy Winter interview

Dresses that change color become reality. The imagination of one designer changes the world of fashion forever. London-based designer Amy Winters made revolutionary items of fashion, from the Rainforest dress, to the Thunderstorm. Amy ‘Rainbow’ Winters is a textile and fashion designer working with interactive materials and excited by their use in performance and entertainment. 

But how did Amy get to design such interesting pieces?

How did you and fashion meet?

I trained originally as a set and costume designer at Central Saint Martins and graduated in 2006. I also had a love for Avant garde fashion and fairytale couture opera. After graduation I was able to dabble in fashion working at fashion shows and developing materials and clothes with a college friend. Experiments back in 2008 included holographic leather and LEDs implemented into clothing.

Is there someone artistic in your family?

My whole family is artistic in their own subversive way from writing to story-telling. My grandmother was an artist.

What are your studies?

I trained in theater design and I am currently working on a PhD in future textiles.

Where does your idea come from?

Ideas are inspired by the mechanisms of nature and it’s wild beauty, the energy of thunderstorms to the morning dew, which drips from a bright green leaf. The more playful elements link in to my childhood, fun toys and dressing up in fancy-dress.

How did you start your label?

I set up Rainbow Winters back in 2010 and wanted to develop some of my concept pieces such as the ‘Thunderstorm’ dress into more commercial wearable pieces. The name was apt as it is my middle name ‘Rainbow’ and surname ‘Winters’. I also love the juxtaposition of the two words which are both elemental but together create something beautiful.

No one picked the idea sooner. How do you think that happened?

Oh lots of people have! It’s a great ‘zeitgeist’ movement of people coming together to start innovating. When I first started back in 2007 there were only a few but now there are so many exciting, interactive developments.  

How do your dresses function?

The Thunderstorm dress (sound-reactive): is made with bespoke holographic leather and sound-reactive, animated electroluminescent panels, as the volume rises, the dress illuminates to create ‘visual music’.

The ‘Rainforest’ showpiece changes colour on reaction to sunlight and water, morphing from a black and white world into living colour and is hand-printed with water-reactive ink.

 

Petal Dress (sun-reactive) is  screen- printed with sun-reactive ink. The print transforms from clear to blue or purple under sunlight. 

Do you collaborate with different specialists from other domains such as technology for creating the outfits?

I collaborate with many different laboratories creating new materials. 

What is people’s reaction so far? Is it how you expected to be?

People are intrigued which is great so I am receiving interest. 

Is there a huge demand in buying the dresses?

My business has developed in the last couple of years and we now work heavily on the research side developing new materials and experimental prototypes rather than ready-to-wear.

Is there a piece that attracts people more?

The sunlight reactive petal dress was a definite best seller. The Thunderstorm dress and Picasso Explosion pieces receive the most attention.

How do people buy the outfits?

Some classics can be bought online through our online store: http://www.rainbowwinters.bigcartel.com

What other projects do you have for the future?

I just released at CES Vegas new fibre-optic prototypes. I am working on a secret new material and other projects, which will be released throughout 2014. 

To see all the Rainbow Winter dresses take a peek on the official site www.rainbowwinters.com.

Wearable book lets readers feel the fiction

Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology have created a "wearable" book which allows the reader to experience the protagonist’s emotions.

Using a combination of sensors, the book senses which page the reader is on and triggers vibration patterns through a special vest.

"Changes in the protagonist’s emotional or physical state trigger discrete feedback in the wearable [vest], whether by changing the heartbeat rate, creating constriction through air pressure bags, or causing localised temperature fluctuations" the researchers said.

The vest contains a personal heating device to change skin temperature and a compression system to convey tightness or loosening through airbags.

The vest also changes vibrations to match the mood of the book.

The book itself has 150 LEDs to create ambient light which changes depending on the setting and mood of the book.

The project, dubbed "Sensory Fiction", was created by Felix Heibeck, Alexis Hope, Julie Legault at MIT's Media Lab.
It was one of the projects created in the Science Fiction to Science Fabrication class.


The researchers used a science fiction novella, "The Girl Who Was Plugged In" by James Tiptree Jr, as their prototype story for creating the wearable book.
They chose it because it "showcases an incredible range of settings and emotions. The main protagonist experiences both deep love and ultimate despair, the freedom of Barcelona sunshine and the captivity of a dark damp cellar."
Describing their project, the researchers wrote: "Sensory fiction is about new ways of experiencing and creating stories.
"Traditionally, fiction creates and induces emotions and empathy through words and images. By using a combination of networked sensors and actuators, the Sensory Fiction author is provided with new means of conveying plot, mood, and emotion while still allowing space for the reader’s imagination. These tools can be wielded to create an immersive storytelling experience tailored to the reader.
"To explore this idea, we created a connected book and wearable [vest]. The ‘augmented’ book portrays the scenery and sets the mood, and the wearable [vest] allows the reader to experience the protagonist’s physiological emotions."