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Flip-Dot Dress: The Process

10-09-2012

Pauline van Dongen proudly presents her newly developed kinetic garment: Flip-Dot Dress. For this challenging project she collaborated with Daniel Schatzmayr, electrical engineer, software developer and robot hacker. Together they developed an interactive garment, by using the principle of flip-dots. These dots are commonly used in a flip-dot display; an electromechanical dot matrix display technology used for large outdoor signs. Pauline got fascinated by flip-dots because of how they merge both analogue and digital technology.
Daniel Schatzmayr designed all the electronics and technology behind this kinetic piece. Alfa-Zeta has provided the flip-dots of which 600 are covering the upper part of the body. They can be individually addressed by a computer to animate mesmerizing patterns swirling around the body. The garment is constructed of a layer of foam and neoprene, both laser cut at Metalab to create a grid that holds the dots into place. A small PCB board is integrated in the dress. It has 70 power outputs, a wireless module, an SD card slot, and is able to deliver up to 5A. Pauline and her amazing team made over 4300 solder connections to create the full construction. The whole design was developed in less than a month time during an Artist in Residency at the MuseumsQuartier in Vienna.
The outfit premiered at the End Symposium of the Technosensual Exhibition, curated by Anouk Wipprecht.