As wearable computing strives to infiltrate our daily lives, evidenced in current scientific research, on runways, and in the industry's undeniable obsession with mobility, we, the users, are trying to catch up with the hype. Is this new smart-wear empowering us, facilitating our daily tasks and helping us to improve our social communication skills?
Or are we becoming more vulnerable and arguably more disembodied, as our insides are thrust onto the outside, and constant connectivity becomes the norm? What are the implications of translating, transmitting and accessing sensory data, emotions and instinct through wearable, technological intermediaries?

This seminar will examine the underlying struggle between the public and the private in the field of wearable computing, showing a variety of cutting-edge approaches to human-centered computing, and highlighting recent applications in context-aware computing and networked relationships. The seminar will also invite reflections on the reasons for and benefits of wearable technologies, and expectations for the near and far future.

With Kristina Andersen (NL), Tom Donaldson (GB), Bradley Rhodes (US), Christa Sommerer (AT) and Laurent Mignonneau (FR). Moderator: Sha Xin Wei (US).

This seminar is part of the MultimediaN project in which V2_ participates.