Engineering Neoteny

Engineering Neoteny is an exploration of the cross sensory relationship between body posture, movement and environmental context using bio-sensing.

“How are the memories from previous experiences associate with the behaviour we perform with our bodies?”

Our emotions, body postures and movements are tied together strongly. That is something that we cannot hide but often ignore. The true relevance of our sense of smell has long been forgotten. It has a hidden influence on our behaviour and consciousness as smell is a process in which we directly interact with our environment. A change in one's body posture or movements can impact the way a person interacts with the environment and how they feel about their own performance (Lakoff & Johnson, 1999).   

This experimental wearable device is created through a system that utilises bio-sensing technology. Electromyography (EMG) muscle sensors are used to detect muscle tensions from the shoulder (deltoids) and thigh (quadriceps) which send signals translated into commands to a micro-controller. Through these commands, the micro-controller triggers doses of scents from different capsules attached on the wearable.

This wearable is a composition conceived to document daily body movements and postures to then to stimulate to body to recreate those movements using a simple olfactory mechanism. At the core of this study is the universal understanding of two underlying principals of this study is the universal understanding of two underlying spheres of knowledge between the record of quantified self movement and its experiences continually analysed over Neoteny.

This project attempts to develop a technology that people could use in future in their daily life.

“The physiological data recorded (EMG Signals, muscle tension) and our behaviour shows desire for dialogue through the intimate connection between the user and Neoteny”