Enabled apparel: The role of digitally enhanced apparel in promoting remote empathic connection

This research explores the role of digitally enhanced apparel in encouraging empathic linkage between geographically distant individuals. The research draws from the diverse fields of communications theory, neuropsychology, presence technologies and technologically advanced textiles, and suggests that a nexus of these disciplines may provide significant opportunities for enhancing the user interactivity of garments. The paper then describes a series of prototypes that the author has developed, in collaboration with a fashion designer and electronic engineers, to encourage remote empathic connection through the real time transference of heartbeat. The paper concludes with a brief discussion regarding what has been learnt through the design and development process, particularly the difficulties in bridging theory and practice, and the role of design in the development of wearable electronics projects.