ABSTRACT

In this chapter, the author explores her practice-based PhD project called MINDtouch: Ephemeral Transference, which followed her research assistant work on the whisper(s) research project, led by Thecla Schiphorst, and her Masters project Dreampod – which both set the tone for her research and career. She explores projects and efforts to build awareness and action on these issues within vast and differing communities of designers, artists, engineers, manufacturers, distributors, supply-chains and other stakeholders in the UK, Europe and beyond, in the wearable technology and smart/e-textiles domain. The MINDtouch media research project stemmed from earlier works, including her Master's Dreampod project and her interest in finding new methods of connectedness. Hacking the Body 2.0 was thus born of a need to explore and critique how wearable technology extends our senses but also how personal data identity and privacy issues can be revealed and understood through layers of 'known-ness'.