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The Future of Health
Explore how smart technology is changing our relationship to our bodies through talks, debate and films. In partnership with Imperial College London
What to expect
How are wearable devices changing our relationship to our bodies?
Wearable devices like the smart watch, medical sensors and gaming consoles are becoming familiar parts of everyday life. With their ability to monitor and record our smallest actions and physical changes, these tools have created unprecedented ways of analysing ourselves. But as our body becomes more open to data collection and surveillance, how can design use these technologies in a way that promotes better and healthier lives? And what impact will these have on our relationship to our own bodies in the future?
This salon brings together designers, scientists and artists to explore how wearable technology can help us to live well. Beginning with a talk on a revolutionary medical device, the e-AR wearable sensor, the salon will go onto examine how contemporary designers are reflecting on these new technologies. The salon will also include short-film screenings introduced by the artist Di Mainstone.
The Future of Health is produced in partnership with Imperial College London.
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Speakers
Professor Guang-Zhong Yang
Professor Guang-Zhong Yang is Director and Co-founder of the Hamlyn Centre for Robotic Surgery at Imperial College London, and Deputy Chairman of the institute of Global Health Innovation. His research explores the medical potentials of robotics and wearable technologies and is known as world leading expert on Body Sensor Networks.
Benny Lo
Dr Benny Lo is a lecturer at the Hamyln Centre at Imperial College London and a specialist in medical robotics. He has been responsible for developing numerous wearable technologies including the e-AR sensor.
Di Mainstone
Artist Di Mainstone creates body-centric sculptures and installations that combine dance, music, technology and film. Di is a Wired Innovation Fellow and founder of the acclaimed Human Harp - a musical device that transforms suspension bridges into giant harps so that people can play them. Di's work has been exhibited internationally.
Alexa Pollmann
Alexa Pollmann is founder of design platform Peut-Porter. She describes her work as ‘design culturing’ and, whilst her practice is body-centric, constantly challenges current notions of ‘wear’. Originally a fashion designer, Alexa leads the Wearable Futures MA at Ravensbourne College and holds an MA in Design Interactions from the RCA.
Chair
Jeremy Myerson
Jeremy Myerson is a writer, speaker, academic and author on design and innovation. He holds the Helen Hamlyn Chair of Design at the Royal College of Art and is Director of the WORKTECH Academy, a new global knowledge network exploring the future of work. He curated the NEW OLD exhibition at The Design Museum in 2017.
Image credit | Shuttleflock, still of short film by Di Mainstone
Image credit | Sage Roof, still of short film by Di Mainstone
Image credit | Hpop5 still of short film by Di Mainstone
Image credit | Banistonica, still of short film by Di Mainstone
Image credit | Atmos1, still of short film by Di Mainstone
Image credit | Ubiquitous Wearing: Camouflage for a Virtual Landscape. Still from Wear & Seek, courtesy of Alexa Pollmann.
Image credit | Courtesy of Imperial College London
Image credit | e-AR sensor, courtesy of Imperial College London
Image credit | e-AR sensor, courtesy of Imperial College London
Image credit | e-AR sensor, courtesy of Imperial College London
Image credit | e-AR sensor, courtesy of Imperial College London
Image credit | e-AR sensor, courtesy of Imperial College London
Image credit | e-AR sensor, courtesy of Imperial College London
Image credit | e-AR sensor, courtesy of Imperial College London
Background image | Atmos1, still of short film by Di Mainstone