Image via Ling Tan
Ling Tan is a native Singaporean who has relocated to London for research on her Reality Mediators project. Reality Mediators, as created by Tan, contains wearable sensors that observe brainwave activity, muscular movements, and GPS location with four devices that will cause distress to the body. This device was invented to help individuals concentrate; if the wearer becomes less active, or if a pause in mental activity is noted, then the device inflicts discomfort on the wearer. For example, the device will emit a terrible noise, zap you with an electric shock, vibrate in an irritating manner, or release intense heat when idleness is noticed.
The brainwave activity sensors are attached to the forehead to detect the productivity of the wearer’s thoughts. The device contains a rechargeable battery. All the electronics that comprise this invention are connected through Arduino microcontrollers, so the device is wearable and portable.
Image via Reality Mediators
When the muscle electrical stimulation armband and brainwave activity sensors are worn, the wearer gets shocked when brain activity is detected as low. As concentration of the wearer increases, the shocks stop.
Image via Reality Mediators
The goal of this product is not only to increase productivity among people, but also to make the wearer ponder how electronics alter our everyday interactions with the world. The gadgets we surround ourselves with, like smartphones, Google Glass, or smartwatches change our behavior and how we perceive ideas. Reality Mediators is an experimentation to analyze how the user adapts to environments and circumstances while wearing the device. Users are forced to more readily adapt to situations while wearing the device, and people will change their routines due to the device’s on-body presence.
Tan is currently creating an entire brand for this wearable technology, so it will eventually be available for purchase. In an interview with Deezen magazine, Tan stated that “the design, branding and packaging of the devices are intentionally made to resemble that of consumer-based products, questioning the extent to which consumers can accept such types of invasive technology that seem acceptable on the outlook, but produces disruptive effects on users.”
Image via Ling Tan
Tan noted that this product is a “critique against commercial wearable devices such as Google Glass that aims to provide consumers with benefit through the use of branding/marketing strategy and pervasive media that breaks down the dichotomy between transparency of information sharing and human privacy.”
It is interesting to consider the potential health effects that Ling's device could potentially inflict. Perhaps regulations for long-term use of wearable technology will eventually emerge.
Story via Deezen
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