E-Traces, shoes record the ballet dancers movements

E-Traces stands for “Electronic Traces” and it is an interactive project created with the aim of allowing ballet dancers reproduce their movements in digital “figures” using a customized mobile application.
The prototype was developed by product designer Lesia Trubat combining technological and craftsmanship expertise and using Arduino Lilypad, force sensors and accelerometers.

The Electronic Traces concept is based on capture of dance movements transforming them into “visual sensations” through the use of modern technology. To do this -explain the authors of the project- we focused on the ballet shoes that, through contact with the floor and thanks to technology Arduino Lilypad technology , record the pressure and the movements of the feet of the dancers and send signals to an electronic device. A special application will allow us to display graphically the data and customize them for individual user.

With this technology, the user will be able to see all the performed movements in video format, they can extract images and even print them. The dancers will be able to interpret their movements and correct them or compare them with those of other dancers.

Arduino LilyPad

It is a microcontroller designated for wearable technology and “electronic textiles” (e-textiles). It can be sewn to fabric and, as with the other Arduino circuit boards, can be equipped with power supplies, sensors and actuators. The board is based on ATmega168V (the low-power version of the ATmega168) or ATmega328V. Arduino LilyPad  was designed and developed by Leah Buechley and SparkFun Electronics.

Arduino LilyPad has a circular shape, about 50mm in diameter. It has a thickness of 8mm and being designed to be worn and, with extreme attention, it can also be washed.

Gallery images credits: designboom.com