Yanjia Yi
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
When the first time Harry Potter’s Magic World came into the eyes of the audience, the fantastic magic attracted many people. Fans of Harry Potter all want a chance to bring magic into real life.
As for the Wearing Light project, it is an excellent time to make assets related to Harry Potter. Luna Lovegood is a cute and creative girl; her glasses spectrespecs, impressed audiences in the Movie. The original spectrespecs were described as making their wearer look like a “demented, multicolored owl.” According to Luna Lovegood, they made wrackspurts (invisible creatures that floated through one’s ears, causing their brain to go fuzzy) visible to the wizarding eye.
(Luna wearing Spectrespecs)
The concept of Light Spectrespecs is to make glasses look like Luna’s Spectrespects as much as possible but also add the sound sensor to turn on the light of glasses to mimic the spell effect.
The Light Spectrespecs aims to help fans of Harry Potter close to the magic world and have fun while some cosplay or use it as a party mask.
FINAL PHOTOS
VIDEO
PARTS LIST
- Glasses frame, with Neopixels hiding inside it
- Adafruit connects with all input and output
- Sound Sensor
- Sticky tape
MATERIALS LIST
- Grafix Shrink Film
- Neopixels
- Wires / Transparent tape / Self adhesive hook and loop tape / Dark silver non-conuctive thread
- Sound sensor
CIRCUIT DIAGRAM
CODE
Github link:
https://github.com/Yanjia-Yi/Advanced_Wearable_Electronics/blob/main/Wearing_Light
PROJECT CONTEXT
When fashion and technology join forces, the luminosity of technology illuminates a potentially revolutionary future for the fashion industry. The incorporation of light-emitting elements into clothing gives rise to a dynamic and visually impressive form of self-expression.
Illuminated clothing, with its captivating glow and futuristic allure, has emerged as a trend that captures attention within the fashion realm. To comprehend and merge aesthetics with technology, we delve into researching and examining its evolution, cultural impact, and the future possibilities it presents.
The notion of illuminated clothing traces its origins back to ancient civilizations. Humans discovered luminescent materials such as fireflies or phosphorescent minerals, which were challenging to incorporate into garments. However, the contemporary era has witnessed a transformative leap in this field with advancements in electroluminescent technology, LED integration, and fiber optics.
Modern illuminated clothing relies on technology to achieve its vivid effects. Examples include electroluminescent panels woven into fabric, LED micro-lights strategically embedded in garments, and fiber optic threads. These technological marvels not only provide a visually striking appearance but also offer a canvas for designers to experiment with new forms and structures.
Beyond its visual appeal, illuminated fashion has profoundly impacted cultural and artistic expression. Glow-in-the-dark apparel has become synonymous with avant-garde creativity, from fashion shows to music performances. Its popularity extends to festivals and events, where individuals use illuminated clothing as a means of self-expression, transforming themselves into living, breathing works of art.
The utilization of illuminated costumes in theater has evolved into a powerful tool for storytellers, enabling a dynamic interplay of light and fabric to enhance the visual and emotional aspects of a performance.
The concept of incorporating light into costumes has ancient roots in theater, where candles and oil lamps illuminated actors on stage. However, the contemporary era has ushered in a new wave of possibilities with electroluminescent materials, LED technology, and fiber optics. These advancements have allowed designers to create costumes that enhance visibility and contribute to a production’s overall aesthetic. Modern illuminated costumes rely on an array of cutting-edge technologies, such as electroluminescent wires woven into fabrics, programmable LED strips, and fiber optic threads. These technologies provide designers with a broad range of possibilities to experiment with, allowing for costumes that change colors, respond to sound cues, and interact with other elements of the stage design. The synergy between technology and costume design has revolutionized how stories are told on stage.
(Photography for ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’)
For instance, in the production ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,’ costumes and props incorporate numerous light elements to create a dreamlike effect.
Luminous costumes have found diverse applications in various theatrical genres. In dance performances, they add a dynamic visual element, emphasizing the fluidity of movement. In musicals, illuminated costumes can create a surreal or fantastical atmosphere, transporting the audience to different worlds. Additionally, in experimental and avant-garde theater, the use of luminous costumes has become a powerful means of conveying abstract concepts and emotions.
The introduction of luminous costumes has profoundly impacted the overall theatrical experience. Beyond their visual appeal, these costumes contribute to the narrative, helping convey emotions, establish settings, and create memorable moments. The interaction between light and costume design has elevated productions to new heights, leaving a lasting impression on audiences.
While illuminated costumes have enriched theatrical productions, they also pose challenges such as power management, durability, and cost. However, ongoing advancements in technology and materials continue to address these issues. Looking ahead, the future of luminous costumes in theater holds exciting possibilities, with the potential for even more immersive and interactive experiences.
According to the research, Light Spectrespecs wants to achieve three criteria as a wearable assessment. First is pleasure in use. No matter whether it is a costume or facial mask that people can wear at any party, the most critical goal in the design of Light Spectrespecs is to transfer pleasure. From Light Spectrespecs to user, from user to audience. The creation of Light Spectrespecs wants to add pleasure to light up any scene just like it physically does. Then, people hope to wear it with comfort. Because lots of wire and chip are hiding inside the frame of glasses, the Light Spectrespecs is too heavy as glasses. To achieve the comfort of using, the Light Spectrespecs, which used to look like glasses, were changed to face masks with sticky tape around the head, making users feel more comfortable wearing them. The face mask structure is even more stable if the user doing some dancing or any big movements. Last but not least, to have personalization. For now, the Light Spectrespecs only have one color mode. If adding more switches or changing the color code for now, users can choose the color they like best and fit any scene by using it.
After texting the Light Spectrespecs, some problems need to be improved. The first and most severe one is the power supply. It still uses the USB cable as a power supply, limiting user movement. It needs to figure out one way that is easy to hide and not heavy. The second point is the surface of the glasses, which could look more attractive if it had been painted on it. Moreover, the last one is if there is a better way to hide the chip.
Bibliography
Admin. “Luminous Laser Light Dance Show.” Streets United, February 13, 2018. https://streets-united.com/luminous-laser-light-dance-show/.
Harala, Elle. “Creative Event Dream Board: Ultra-Lounge (Led Everything).” National Event Pros, January 11, 2020. https://nationaleventpros.com/led-everything/.
“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Global Website.” Harry Potter And The Cursed Child | Global Website. Accessed December 11, 2023. https://www.harrypottertheplay.com/.
MikaelaHolmes, Natalina, MikaelaHolmes, SKS Props, Joe.andolina, Linawassong, Tifetup, et al. “Illuminated Costumes.” Instructables. Accessed December 11, 2023. https://www.instructables.com/Illuminated-Costumes/.
Wiki, Contributors to Harry Potter. “Spectrespecs.” Harry Potter Wiki. Accessed December 11, 2023. https://harrypotter.fandom.com/wiki/Spectrespecs.