Can soft technologies enhance the senses and intimate connections across bodies, environments, and non-human entities? This workshop explores how electronic textiles, soft sensors, and tactile circuits can expand the ways our bodies perceive and interact with others and with the surrounding world. Through DIY/DIWO practices and an open-source approach, participants will create interactive prototypes that reimagine the body as a living interface. Working with conductive threads, smart fabrics, cables, and soft circuits, we will speculate about alternative bodily technologies within post-digital networks of care and connection. 

Over the course of three days, participants will: 

• Be introduced to the world of wearable technology and e-textiles. 
• Learn the basics of electronics, Arduino coding, and soft sensor design. 
• Develop a speculative concept for an interactive wearable. 
• Prototype and present their own designs. 

The workshop is open to anyone curious about e-textiles and wearables. 

No prior experience in electronics, coding, or crafting is required, newcomers and experienced participants alike are welcome. 

Bring your own laptops. 

Working language: English

Format: 3 sessions of 3 hours each (total 9 hours) 

Group size: maximum 10 participants 

Reservation of a place after registration and confirmation. Places are limited, priority is given to the first to register.

This Activity is part of the COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology)-funded Action: TOOLKIT OF CARE (TOC), CA21102

*TOC is an international project led by an interdisciplinary group of creative practitioners, academics, researchers and arts organizations that specialize in creative technologies and that have considerable experience in the production and dissemination of this kind of knowledge across Europe and internationally, who have come together to form a “critical network of care”. The network will collaborate to share their collective expertise and technical knowledge employed in creative ways to develop knowledge and methodologies of care. The main aim is to produce a well formulated and integrated TOOLKIT OF CARE comprising articles, prototypes, audiovisual documentation, technical manuals, theoretical analysis, and data. It will act as a model of how to successfully share knowledge and expertise across different geographical regions and social groups.

**COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a funding agency for research and innovation networks. Our Actions help connect research initiatives across Europe and enable scientists to grow their ideas by sharing them with their peers. This boosts their research, career and innovation.

https://www.cost.eu/