A feely solution to a touchy subject: Augmenting bodily perceptions to self-manage student stress discreetly through wearable electronic textiles

A Feely Solution to a Touchy Subject:
Augmenting bodily perceptions to self-manage student stress discreetly through wearable electronic textiles

This presentation describes and evaluates an e-textile concept to read and respond to female students’ sub-conscious, ‘in-the-moment’ stress by detecting biomarkers associated with stress. Interacting with nature can impact positively on wellbeing, and programming electronic-clothing with haptics simulated kinetic patterns in nature. Unobtrusive gestures such putting a hand in a pocket initiated the sensing, and feedback was realised discreetly through micro-lights and haptics. These sensory cues evoked bodily and mental perceptions which re-anchored mindsets, lowered stress and visualised biofeedback in real-time. This accessible intervention eases pressure on healthcare systems and empowers students to self-manage their daily stress in everyday settings.