Depth-sensing projections let users design wearables on skin

Tactum projects an image onto a user’s body which they manipulate with hand gestures to design 3D printed wearables.

The maker movement has already made some significant forays into wearables. We’ve already seen a chip specifically designed to encourage experimentation with wearable technology, and now designer Madeline Gannon introduces an innovative way for users to design 3D printed wearables.

Tactum, from Gannon’s MADLAB.CC studio, in collaboration with Autodesk Research, uses depth sensing projections that enables users to design wearables directly on their skin. Users manipulate beams of light on their wrist, using pinches and rubbing motions to change the framework orientation, which will then be converted into a 3D printed model that fits the user’s wrist. By scanning the user’s forearm prior to manipulation, Tactum is able to produce wearables that fit uniquely, with plans in place to use the tech for 3D printing medical braces and casts.

Following our recent coverage of a fitting room that uses cameras to provide accurate bra sizes, do depth-sensing optics represent the future of truly unique clothing and wearable tailoring?