12 International Journal of Art, Culture and Design Technologies, 1(1), 12-21, January-June 2011
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Keywords: Artistic Processes, Design, Education, Integrated Art-Science-Technology, Smart Textile,
Transdisciplinary, Wearable Computing
INTRODUCTION
One of the drivers for the initiation of the re-
search project was the dramatically low number
of female students in the field of technology,
engineering and computer science at university
level.
3
The hypothesis of the project claims
the introduction of artistic processes linked
to meaningful contexts developed by the girls
Shaping Interactive Media
with the Sewing Machine:
Smart Textile as an Artistic Context
to Engage Girls in Technology
and Engineering Education
Daniela Reimann, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Institute of Vocational and General
Education, Germany
ABSTRACT
In the context of converging media technologies, the concept of mobile media embedded in wearable material
was introduced. Wearable Computing, Fashionable Technology, and Smart Textile are being developed at the
intersection of media, art, design, computer science, and engineering. However, in Germany, little research
has been undertaken into Smart Textile in education
1
. Those activities are not realized at school in the context
of artistic processes in general MINT
2
education in classroom settings. In order to research the interplay of
electronic textiles and wearable technology, hard and software tools, such asArduino LilyPad, a programmable
board designed for stitching into clothing and fexible applications are scrutinized. In the project, contemporary
media art projects in the feld of Fashionable Technology are explored to inspire interdisciplinary technology
education. The project described in this paper engages girls in technology and engineering by integrating
artistic processes as well as a more playcentric approach to technology and engineering education.
themselves can be key to trigger interest and
motivation to deal with technology embedded
in everyday life. Artistic processes, diverse
materials and media aim to mediate technology
as aesthetic experience, embedded in artistic
processes of shaping, designing, construct-
ing, programming and presenting interactive
technology in individual project contexts. The
paper is based on the research project “Artistic
Approaches to Engage Girls and Young Women
in Technology and Engineering in Education
at School and University” held at the KIT’s
DOI: 10.4018/ijacdt.2011010102