Line of Sight: Identity in a Digital Age

In the information age, human beings can be identified in an endless number of ways. From our medical history to the movies we rent, we each have a personal identity based on the choices we make. Our decisions  define who we are. Our identity follows us everywhere. Technology opens new pathways to privately communicating personal identification. Whether this information helps others understand our character or helps us define our own identity, we need to employ new technologies to adapt safer, more discrete/overt ways to convey personal identification.

Line of Sight features thirteen conceptual designs that explore this theme of identity through the lens of eyewear and other accessories.

Immersive TranslationJerimiah Welch

The goal of this project was to enhance the language learning experience for international travelers. Early web-based research revealed that these travelers wished for two things when learning a new language: perfect human translation and rich multimedia interactivity. These concepts use cell-network connectivity and usage-defined databases to accurately translate between two languages in a variety of media.

Physical InternetYale Wolf

Imagine if you were to interact with the real world as if you were using the internet. This collection will allow you to access information about physical objects or places with visual contact. The technology incorporates the use of QR codes which connects you to virtual spaces. These scenarios are useful in many places such as metro systems and cafes, which will ease the interaction with your environment.

PrimingDavid Schlesinger

The body clock (or circadian rhythm) is our biological response to the cycles of the sun, moon and seasons - it’s what makes us alert in the mornings and sleepy at night - and as anyone who has experienced a long-flight or stress, throwing this 24 hour rhythm into chaos can result in prolonged exhaustion. By tinkering with our bodies’ response to light, sound and vibration the circadian rhythm can be adjusted to combat these problems.

Memory SupportMechille Kiss

The human eye and brain are acutely tuned to recoginze subtle expressions in faces and voices. Yet the brain is continuosly inundated with new information and there is a limit to what can be stored. LOci aids human memory and assists in personal interactions using unobtrusive facial and voice recognition technology. The persons name and additional identifying information are discreetly relayed via audible and visual readings.

Runner Support ToolsMolly Purdin

Runners need tools to help monitor the strain they are putting on their bodies, navigate trails, and identify themselves in case of an emergency. This collection features eyewear with an incorporated GPS system to convey basic directions by flashing lights, a watch to monitor vitals and distances throughout a run, and an ID clip housing a passive GPS chip that can be activated by a rescue team to locate a lost runner.

Digital Make-UpJin Han Tsai

3D holograms are a widely used element in many runway fashion shows. The Digital Make-Up concept uses similar technology to project holographic images or animation onto one’s facial features. Multiple imbedded hiliodisplay projectors orient 3D images along the contours of the head, creating the illusion that the model is wearing make-up.

Care Diabetes ControlTyler Swain

Care is a non-invasive alternative for those dealing with diabetes. Three separate components provide users a non-invasive product range from a continuous glucose monitor to a combination of glucose monitor, nano insulin pump and insulin reservoir. Automatically adjusting to balance its user’s blood sugar, Care frees patients from many of the restrictions diabetes often brings.

TriageEmily Flax

Race CoordinationJay Ostby

Competitve cycle racing is a sport that relies on team work and coordination. Each team member has a very specific job and responsibility. Through the use of GPS and RFID each teammate is able to visually see his teams relative position through the use of a heads-up display embedded in the frames. A wireless radio allows communication between the team and coaches. A swipe of a finger on the hub controls the interface.

Child MonitorAdam Weisgerber

Parents wear these sunglasses to locate their children in a crowd. The child wears a clip that transmits its location to the glasses, which display an indicator in the parent’s field of view exactly where the child is. This would help spot out a lost child at a crowded place like an amusement park, fireworks show, pumpkin patch, festival, playground, park, or beach. Or, with multiple children to watch at a crowded playground, the guardian could leave the indicators on and keep track of everybody simultaneously. With the visual indicators turned off, the item would function like normal sunglasses.

At home, the components are folded up and re-charged on an induction charging plate.

Child ExpressionSarah Owen

As the world rapidly approaches globalization, our identity begins to slowly merge with the power of media, trends, and technology. However, unaltered by society, children have the ability to convey who they are through personal experiences and style. This collection allows children to freely express their individuality with a combination of worn LCD technology and photography.

Virtual Manipulation of 3D SpaceJoseph Riehl

Beneath its shiny exterior, this artistic tool incorporates a number of cutting edge technologies. The stylus uses an accelerometer and gyrometer to measure motion and tilt, and likewise utilizes both infrared and Bluetooth technology to interact with a sensor bar hidden within the eyewear which will ultimately send information via wi-fi to the central docking hub as well as the internet.

Inventory ManagementCJ Frederickson

When it comes to the flow of goods within a commercial enterprise, safety and accuracy are essential. With those factors in mind, this concept investigates ways to improve efficiency with inventory management. Users that operate this system are in an environment that can be both mentally and physically demanding. Therefore, it is important to have such products that are compact and easy to use.