Overview
The OpenWearables project is an initiative to advance wearable computing by following open-hardware and open-software principles. It aims to create a research infrastructure and community that makes wearable devices more accessible, extensible, interoperable and impactful. Key objectives include:
-
Democratising wearable technology: Lowering the barrier of hardware- and software-development so that more researchers, educators and makers can build wearable artefacts.
-
Fostering an open innovation community: Bringing together people from diverse backgrounds (hardware, software, design, human-computer interaction) to build upon shared artefacts and collaborate.
-
Supporting reproducible, extensible artefacts: Wearable systems should be open, technically documented, modular and manufacturable by others.
-
Accelerating deployment across domains: The project is not only about prototypes, but about enabling wearable applications for health, interaction, sensing, beyond mere novelty.
-
Promoting interoperability: By defining principles, sharing design files, and encouraging modular connectors/interfaces, the project aims to allow different wearable artefacts to work together.
Within this project, a key exemplar of TECO is the OpenEarable platform, which embodies many of these goals: an open-source ear-worn sensing device that allows researchers to explore ear-based sensing in a transparent, extendible way.
OpenWearables Workshop
As part of the OpenWearables project, we regularly run a workshop at Ubicomp titled OpenWearables which functions as the community-hub, publication venue and hands-on gathering.
