While we are on the subject of the brainwave of the future, designer/architect Benhaz Farahi’s latest project is a “kinetic art” inspired accessory just waiting for a science fiction screenplay. Her 3D printed Synapse is a helmet, resembling one “worn by an outer space sentry,” that moves according to brain activity. That’s right, your thoughts control the helmet’s motion.
How does it work? 3D printed in flexible material using an Object Connex500, the helmet has a modified
With the aid of the NeuroSky technology, your brainwaves move the Synapse helmet. Beyond exhibiting the incredible collaboration between 3D printing and other cutting edge technologies, Farahi describes Synapse‘s main intention is “to explore the possibilities of multi-material 3d printing in order to produce a shape-changing structure around the body as a second skin. It is an attempt to explore direct control of the movement with neural commands from the brain, so that we can effectively control the environment around us through our thoughts.”
Currently a PhD student in Media Arts and Practices at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts, Farahi is a designer/architect and Annenberg Fellow at the University. All of Farahi’s work explores the relationship between interactive environments and the human body. Her work “aims to play
Synapse is not the only 3D printing project under Farahi’s belt. She is also working on a NASA-funded project to develop a robot that can print structures on the moon. This project is in collaboration with Professor Behrokh Khoshnevis.
According to her website, Farahi’s work has been selected for many exhibitions, and in 2013 she was awarded first prize for the Kinetic Art Organization’s international competition, among other awards.
From an assessment of the artist’s own accomplishments, her Synapse helmet is just the beginning of her brain-kinetic artistic explorations and she has her hands in many incredible projects. To see he Synapse helmet in action, check out the video below.
What do you think about this application of 3D printing? Have you seen any other projects that incorporate brainwaves into devices? Let us know over at the 3D Printed, Brainwave-Reactive Helmet forum thread at 3DPB.com.
[Via: Vice.com]