The pathos of the city: Wearable mobile technologies in public health

Abstract

The article describes the process of creation of a sensorized insole built with biomaterials (latex from Havea brasilienses) as a mobile wearable device. The insole will acquire physiological data (galvanic skin response, foot pressure, temperature) combined with locative systems (GPS) to create a kind of ‘emotional living map’ of the city. The system is enactive: Varela et al. define the concept, as the situation when ‘organism and environment enfold into each other and unfold from one another in the fundamental circularity that is life itself’. Previous tests show the insole is a good personal health assistant, especially for people with diabetes (who are potentially affected by foot ulcers). The biomaterial and pressure sensors used can predict some of the areas most affected and contribute to healing. An artistic background is also presented to show how artists using different technologies created the debate about art versus urban space versus body. Locative media art practices also contribute to the exploration of the dynamic processes used to create different maps. The project is a result of transdisciplinary research between arts and technoscience, and involves the collaboration between artists and biomedical engineers and other scientists from the Art and TechnoScience Laboratory and the Engineering and Innovation Laboratory (both at Gama College of the University of Brasilia) in collaboration with MediaLab – MIT-Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Camera Culture Group).