BodyVis

Abstract

Internal organs are hidden and untouchable, making it difficult for children to learn their size, position, and function. Traditionally, human anatomy (body form) and physiology (body function) are taught using techniques ranging from worksheets to three-dimensional models. We present a new approach called BodyVis, an e-textile shirt that combines biometric sensing and wearable visualizations to reveal otherwise invisible body parts and functions. We describe our 15-month iterative design process including lessons learned through the development of three prototypes using participatory design and two evaluations of the final prototype: a design probe interview with seven elementary school teachers and three single-session deployments in after-school programs. Our findings have implications for the growing area of wearables and tangibles for learning.

Taking into Account Sensory Knowledge

“…that learning is most efficient when acquired through doing in a rich environment (see also [43]). Such technologies are often deployed inside facilities [60,59,91,69] (although the recently proposed "Worldas-Support" paradigm [61] may change that) and mainly rely on visual stimuli and feedback (e.g., use of pico-projectors). Directing visual attention for learning is a challenge in this area [62].…”

On Looking at the Vagina through Labella

“…We focus here on technologies that combine embodied learning and intimate selfdiscovery. Body literacy among school children is developed through exploring tangible "body organs" in [29,30], and body organs that are intimate, but also problematized by touch and visibility, are explored in [2]. All of these examples explore engagement and learning with technology to stimulate knowledge of body organs that are "invisible and untouchable" by composing and mapping material representations of the body landscape.…”

“…Furthermore, [30] shows evidence of how such on-body approaches can successfully engage children in learning about anatomy and physiology by exploring wearable interactions. A wearable technology that embodies playfulness can be seen in [37], where a 'body object' is used to perform in unexpected ways, with the self and in interaction with others, in order to compose sounds.…”

“…Recent work in wearable e-textiles has begun to explore the impact of on-body technologies in learning [29,30]. Further work has investigated interactions within clothing that interface with mobile technology [32].…”

Tobe

“…However, as with the "Social Skin" project [27] -that also embodies emotions into actuated wearables -, the information given to those around was rather implicit. When a more comprehensible feedback was studied, as in [18], it was limited to anatomical models, for instance to teach children how the body works. Tobe, on the other hand, gives both access to meaningful visualizations and to additional cognitive states.…”