Witterings of Rain (@Rainycat) on subjects such as wearable technology and electronic / computational art, hardware hacking, open source, tech events, gaming, cats and occasionally a mention of vegan food.
I devote most of my time to the invention, design and construction of electronic interactive artworks and wearables, for which I am available for commission, as well as consultancy in the realms of technology, arts and educational websites and interactive activities. I’m very interested in sensing technologies and how these can be applied to wearable tech to help us measure our moods, health and lifestyle, and am experimenting with making my own by hacking existing tech and by building from scratch.
If you’re looking for examples of my wearable technology work:
- EEG Data Visualising Pendant
- Baroesque – Barometric Skirt
- Proximity warning wearable for cyclists
- Heartbeat / proximity sensing techlace
- Temperature sensing t-shirt
- Musical interactive shirt
- Musical gaming artwork
- Various magnetic field responsive teapots
- Electroluminescent panel dress
- Interactive musical artwork
I frequently speak at conferences and events on wearable technology, links to some of my presentations can be found on http://www.slideshare.net/Rainycat/presentations.
2013 exhibitions & talks
- Baroesque Barometric Skirt at Smart Textiles Salon, Ghent, Belgium
- ‘Visualising Physiological Data’ Quantified Self Europe 2013, Amsterdam
- ‘EEG Visualising Pendant’ Maker Faire UK, Newcastle
- ‘Introduction to Wearable Technology’, workshop at Bridge Rectifier, Hebden Bridge, W Yorkshire
- ‘Women in Computer Science’, Open Day, Goldsmiths College, London
- ‘Visualising EEG signals for Wearable Technology (poster)’ Challenges & Opportunities for Wireless Sensing Systems in Healthcare and Assisted Living, National Physical Laboratory, Teddington
- ‘Here Comes Wearable Technology’, QCon London 2013 Software Development Conference, QEII Conference Centre, London
- Tech City International Womens’ Day Showcase, London
2012 exhibitions & talks
- ‘Art-Creativity-Technology & Wellness’, Goldsmiths Thursday Club, C4CC, London
- YRS / Digital Explorers: Middle East Hackday, London
- OSHcamp 2012, Hebden Bridge
- London Threads, C4CC, London
- Wearable Technology workshop tour, Aberystwyth & Cardigan
- Technology for Artists, Goldsmiths College, London
- Open GDNM, The Rag Factory, London
- International Symposium on Wearable Computers 2012, Newcastle
- Flossie 2012, London
- Chi-TEK Exhibition, Watermans Gallery, London
- LilyPad Arduino workshop, University of Wales, Aberystwyth
- Nano4design, QMUL, London
- CultureCode, Live Theatre, Newcastle
- CultureCode, MIMA, Middlesborough
2011 exhibitions & talks
- Maker Faire UK, Newcastle
- Kinetica Art Fair, London
- OpenTech, London
- Dorkbot, London
- Web Weekend: Victoria & Albert Museum, London
- Brighton Mini Maker Faire
- Chi-TEK, Victoria & Albert Museum, London
- Transfer Summit, Keble College, Oxford
- Quantified Self EU, Amsterdam
I am currently a PhD researcher, peering at wearable electronics & finding that some of my best friends are cyborgs. Previously I have studied Fine Art, Multimedia & Electronics Engineering (respectively), which has led to my work developing as a convergence of art, programming & electronics.
Harajuku Japanese street fashion fascinates me, especially Elegant Gothic Lolita and its variations, which has influenced me to create my own variant on this fashion “Neon-Victoriana” which includes the use of electroluminescent materials and electronic modules.
Previously I worked the BBC, where I was Senior Producer at BBC Learning, and also Technologist at BBC R&D, producing groundbreaking projects such as R&DTV and BBC Backstage.
Organising events is another fun pastime of mine and I oversaw a few during my time working for BBC Backstage and also at the BBC I ran a Women in Tech network for my colleagues. I’ve also organised one off events such as GameCamp.
