Introduction: Haptika Empower Glove
Haptika is a set of DIY wearable technology kits designed to mitigate the effects of sexual and physical abuse. Survivors of abuse can possibly contradict the physiological and psychological effects of violence through self employed haptic touch experiences with interactive interfaces and expressive feedback. Through this potential access, creation, and adaptation of these DIY tools, survivors can re-establish a visceral sense of embodiment and empowerment thus contradicting the helplessness and fragmentation of trauma. Haptika aims to transform the landscape of therapeutic tools.
The concept for the Empower Glove is simple and profound. The concept is “I complete an action, I create change.” — “I clench my fist and the light comes on.” This first prototype uses the haptic interaction of pressure. By clenching one’s fist, in an intentional gesture, and enacting the reciprocal feedback, the project teaches both embodiment through intentional somatic awareness and empowerment through creation, gesture, and reciprocity.
Step 1: Supplies
BEFORE GETTING STARTED
Download Arduino – Arduino is the open source software we will use to program these kits to do the cool things we want them to do! The code provided with the kit is a starter sample so that your kit works as intended but you are encouraged to learn, play, experiment and remix all you want!
- 1 x Glove – you can find these for a couple dollars at almost any retail store or if you are like me, you have a bunch of non-matching gloves in different crevices of my dresser.
- 1 x Velcro – for the Empower Glove you will want something to help anchor your breadboard
- 1 x Wire Cutter Needles and Thread – for sewing the velcro to your glove
- 1 x Breadboard
- 1 x ProMicro
- 1 x Force Sense Resistor
- 1 x Addressable Neopixel
- 1 x 10kΩ Resistor
- 5 x wires
Step 2: SEW VELCRO ONTO GLOVE WRIST
The bottoms of breadboards are naturally sticky so you can stick the alternating velcro side to the bottom of the breadboard and it should stay there no problem.
Step 3: PUSH PRO MICRO INTO THE BREADBOARD
Notice how one side has 1 row of holes and the other side has 4 rows available.
Step 4: PLACE NEOPIXEL LED INTO BREADBOARD
Notice the flat side of the LED – make sure the flat side of the LED is facing the outside of the board
Place the LED so that the furthest pin (the one under the flat side of the LED) is on the furthest hole of the breadboard.
Step 5: CUT UP SOME THIN PIECES OF THE VELCRO (THE TOOTH SIDE) AND PLACE ON THE FORCE SENSE RESISTOR
Step 6: PLACE THE FORCE SENSE RESISTOR INTO THE BREADBOARD
Place it so that its two pins are in the furthest two holes across from the LED
Step 7: WIRE THE FORCE SENSE RESISTOR
Feel free to use your wire cutters to trim down your wires in case you want a tighter design.
- 10k Resistor from the ProMicro GND to the Force Sense Resistor Data Pin 1
- Red Wire from the ProMicro VCC to the Force Sense Resistor Power Pin 1
- Green Wire from the ProMicro A0 to the Force Sense Resistor Data Pin
Step 8: WIRE THE NEOPIXEL LED
- 1 Black Wire from the ProMicro GND to the LED GND Pin (third pin from the left)
- 1 Yellow Wire from the Power Row PWR to the LED PWR Pin (second pin from the left)
- 1 Green Wire from the ProMicro PIN 3 to the LED Data In Pin (first pin from the left)
Step 9: ATTACH THE BREADBOARD AND THE FORCE SENSE RESISTOR TO THE GLOVE UNDERSIDE
Step 10: PLUG IN YOUR MICRO USB AND LET’S UPLOAD SOME CODE!!!
Step 11: HOW TO PROGRAM YOUR EMPOWER GLOVE
1.) OPEN UP ARDUINO (WHICH YOU DOWNLOADED FROM THE LINK ABOVE)
2.) REPLACE THE CODE IN THE NEW FILE WITH THE CODE BELOW
3.) PUT YOUR GLOVE ON AND MAKE SURE THE USB IS PLUGGED INTO THE GLOVE AND YOUR COMPUTER
4.) PROGRAM THE FORCEVALUE IF STATEMENT
Step 12: PROGRAM ForceValue
As you can see, the sample code has “if forceValue is less or equal to 415 then do…” but each person’s will vary slightly. To see which values you need, open up your serial port. The serial port is a magnifying glass icon on the top right of your sketch window
Numbers should start scrolling through. Move your fingers around and watch how they change. Your Force Sense Resistor is measuring the amount of bend force you are applying. Now make a fist. Make a fist a few times will noting the value at which you clench your fist and at which you release it. Note that value and replace the “415” after if(forceValue <= 415) Since everyone is unique you may find that your values go higher once your fist is clenched. Simply change the “<=” to “>=” which means “greater than or equal to”
