Touch Bands originated from an idea to develop sound responsive garments for dancers and aimed to introduce them to alternative, experimental, digital applications for the body drawing on dancers knowledge of movement and body awareness.

The Touch Bands are touch-activated accessories, which were worn on different parts of the body to trigger haptic effects using vibro-tactile feedback. They included a circuit powered by lithium iron batteries and producing haptic feedback with small motors connected to DIY capacitive sensors and off the shelf pressure sensors. The accessories were designed as narrow bands that fastened to the body using Velcro for accurate positioning. Each bands’ computational setup sensed touch using two methods: measuring capacitance and pressure values. The output generated vibro-tactile wave-forms depending on input type; if capacitive touch was activated a slow pulse resulted, if pressure levels changed a faster pulse resulted. Digital and hand-embroidered circular motifs on each surface provided a visual prompt to locate the sensors and detect touch signals and are called the ‘pads’, which could be felt through the skin of the band wearer. These examples of electronic embroidery or e-broidery surfaces used hand-sewn conductive thread sections as capacitive touch zones or pads.

During a 1-hour workshop and live demonstration, dancers took it in turns to wear the smart accessories and improvise movements either individually or with others to trigger the vibro-tactile feedback. The workshop situation was a space to collaborate with dance students, who were technically and somatically skilled in movement work and able to use the body as a site for experimentation. Touch Bands inspired interpersonal behaviour between the dancers and encouraged them to move away from individual to more partner-focused, horizontally oriented movement work. They used Touch Bands to provoke sensations in other people and facilitate interpersonal interaction, improvisation and shared contact.