Cognitive load refers to the amount of information (and stimuli) our brains can process. Just like with a computer, overload can cause our brains to not function optimally. Overload, or a surplus of stimuli, can be the result of stress, fatigue or frustration, among other things. The 3D printed dress has an advanced EEG sensor that forms a wearable brain-computer interface (BCI). The mental workload is determined using machine learning.
Cognitive load visualized
The dress features six round displays. The mental workload is shown in real time. The screens show an iris with a pupil. As the mental load increases and reaches saturation point, each screen shows an iris and pupil that continues to dilate.
This way, the wearer of the dress can immediately see what consequences cognitive overload has for functioning and the connection between behavior and how the brain responds to it is shown. According to the designer, by visually showing brain activity, a technological dialogue is also created between the wearer of the dress and their environment.
EEG sensor headset
The EEG sensor is a 4-channel BCI headset called the Unicorn Headband. This was developed by NeuroTech company g.tec together with the designer of the dress (Anouk Wipprecht). The headset is designed to be comfortable and easy to wear. The machine learning software that estimates mental workload is tailored to each wearer during a two-minute training session when they first wear the dress.
“Electronics are getting smaller and smaller. The possibilities since the beginning of this century are endless. What I have been trying to do for the past 20 years is to connect our bodies with electronics, robot (fashion) design and wearable interfaces. But what if we can connect technologically expressive garments with our bodies, body language and even emotions? What dialogues can we initiate in this way? This is what I explore with designs like this,” says designer Anouk Wipprecht.
Dress comes to Eindhoven
The dress components were designed in PTC’s Onshape cloud-native product development platform and 3D printed by HP Inc using their Jet Fusion 3D Printing Solution. In the coming weeks, the designers of this 3D-printed dress with headset for measuring and demonstrating cognitive load will go on a ‘tour’ through Europe. This weekend (23 and 24 September, ed.) he can be admired at the Maker Faire in Eindhoven.
New 3D printed dress reveals hidden burden on our brains