Short answer

Designers should consider how wearable technology can facilitate deeper, more embodied connections between users and content, or between users themselves.

Field
Human Factors
Source
Academic Publication (2023)
Method
Autobiographical design inquiry and micro-phenomenological interviews
Evidence
Moderate effect

A kinesthetic garment designed to transfer vocal somatic experiences can create a shared intercorporeal sensation between a performer and a listener. This human factors research insight is drawn from a 2023 study published in Academic Publication. Using Autobiographical design inquiry and micro-phenomenological interviews, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Designers should consider how wearable technology can facilitate deeper, more embodied connections between users and content, or between users themselves.

Study
Human FactorsRecentModerate effect

Haptic Garments Enhance Intersubjective Vocal Experience

A kinesthetic garment designed to transfer vocal somatic experiences can create a shared intercorporeal sensation between a performer and a listener.

Academic Publication · 2023

01

Key Findings

  • 01Corsetto successfully bridged inner and outer bodily sensations.
  • 02It created a feeling of a shared intercorporeal experience.
  • 03It dissolved boundaries between listener, singer, and performance.
02

Application

Design takeaway

Designers should consider how wearable technology can facilitate deeper, more embodied connections between users and content, or between users themselves.

How to apply

Explore how haptic feedback in wearables can be used to convey emotions or physical states in other contexts, such as training simulations or remote collaboration.

Project actions

  • 01Consider designing a simple wearable that uses vibration motors to convey different states (e.g., excitement, calm).
  • 02Focus on a specific sensory experience you want to transfer (e.g., the feeling of running, the tension in a muscle).
  • 03Think about how the placement of haptic actuators affects the user's perception.
03

Method & Evidence

AimCan a kinesthetic garment effectively transfer the somatic experience of singing from an expert to a listener, fostering a shared intercorporeal sensation?
MethodAutobiographical design inquiry and micro-phenomenological interviews
ProcedureResearchers designed and created a kinesthetic garment called Corsetto. They composed haptic gestures within the garment to emulate the upper-body movements of a live singer. Audiences wore Corsetto during live performances and were subsequently interviewed about their experience.
ContextImmersive opera performance and audience experience

Variables

IVPresence and type of haptic feedback from the Corsetto garment.
DVListener's perception of shared intercorporeal experience, feeling of connection, and dissolution of boundaries.
CVType of performance (Morton Feldman's Three Voices), expert singer's movements, audience setting.
04

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

  • +Novel approach to intersubjective experience through haptics.
  • +Rigorous qualitative analysis of user experience.

Limitations

Small sample sizes in user testing, subjective nature of user feedback, and the difficulty in objectively measuring 'shared experience'.

Reliability & validity

Reliability could be improved by using standardized questionnaires for subjective experience. Validity is strong in capturing the nuanced qualitative experience but limited in generalizability due to the specific context and small sample size.

Think critically

To what extent can technology truly replicate or transfer subjective embodied experiences, and what are the ethical considerations of designing for such deep intersubjectivity?

05

Design Principles

"Embodied Haptic Transfer: Design wearable systems that translate nuanced physical sensations to create shared subjective experiences."

This research explores the potential of wearable technology to directly influence human perception and emotional connection. It highlights how physical feedback can mediate subjective experiences, offering new avenues for design in areas ranging from performance art to therapeutic applications.

06

What This Means for Your Design

A special vest that vibrates and moves can make you feel what a singer is feeling when they sing, making the performance feel like a shared experience.

How to use in your project

  • 1.Use this research to justify the design of a wearable device that aims to enhance empathy or shared experience.
  • 2.Refer to the concept of 'intersubjective haptics' when discussing the intended user experience of your product.
07

Add to My Project

08

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

The Corsetto project demonstrates the potential of 'intersubjective haptics' in wearable design, where kinesthetic garments can transfer somatic experiences to create a shared intercorporeal sensation between individuals. This research suggests that by carefully designing haptic feedback, designers can bridge inner and outer bodily sensations, fostering deeper connections and dissolving perceived boundaries between users and their experiences, a principle applicable to enhancing user engagement and emotional resonance in various design contexts.

09

Source

Academic Publication

Corsetto

journal · 2023

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about haptic garments enhance intersubjective vocal experience?
Designers should consider how wearable technology can facilitate deeper, more embodied connections between users and content, or between users themselves. Evidence: Academic Publication (2023).
Why does "Haptic Garments Enhance Intersubjective Vocal Experience" matter for design?
This research explores the potential of wearable technology to directly influence human perception and emotional connection. It highlights how physical feedback can mediate subjective experiences, offering new avenues for design in areas ranging from performance art to therapeutic applications.
How can designers apply this research?
Designers should consider how wearable technology can facilitate deeper, more embodied connections between users and content, or between users themselves.
What were the main findings?
Corsetto successfully bridged inner and outer bodily sensations.. It created a feeling of a shared intercorporeal experience.. It dissolved boundaries between listener, singer, and performance.
What research method was used?
Autobiographical design inquiry and micro-phenomenological interviews.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2023 journal from Academic Publication.
What should I do differently in my next project?
Explore how haptic feedback in wearables can be used to convey emotions or physical states in other contexts, such as training simulations or remote collaboration.
What are the limitations?
The study's findings are based on a specific artistic context and may not generalize to all types of wearable technology or user groups. The subjective nature of phenomenological interviews can introduce bias.