IxDA Portland: Wearable Technology January 15, 2013

Sit up Straight! - How Wearable Technology can Support Healthy Living

Have you ever wanted to send a hug from far away, automatically track your daily activity, or have your clothing correct your posture? What if your insulin delivery went from being a plastic shot in your pocket to a beautiful ring on your finger? How ubiquitous can pervasive technology really be? We will look at the rapidly changing future of wearable technology where health and wellness companies are early adopters.

Wearable technology syncs with daily life so that we don’t simply think about our health when something hurts, but rather utilize the ever present technology to get and stay healthy. Notoriously unattractive medical devices are being slowly re-engineered into desirable artifacts to carry with pride. Janna will bring a working prototype and samples to interact with and discuss. With 20 years of experience in apparel and health related design, as well as 10 years working in technology, Janna brings a unique perspective of how these two seemingly disparate materials can continue to merge to create the ultimate user experience.

About Our Guest Speaker
Currently the Senior User Experience Researcher (say that 10 times fast) at Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield, Janna C. Kimel has been practicing design and design research since 1991. In the 1990’s Janna could be found in theatrical costume shops and running a business making adaptive apparel for people with special needs. With the turn of the century she became fascinated with technology and how it could be combined with her favorite material, textiles. Janna has woven together a career stitching seemingly disparate disciplines together.

As the principal of a small consultancy, third brain studio, llc, she had the opportunity to partner with innovative agencies such as Ziba, IDEO, Lunar, and health care companies including EnteroMedics, Providence, and our very own Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. In addition, Janna spent several years working with Intel’s Digital Health Group where she was part of the team who brought you the Intel Health Guide 6000. She has published and presented on motivation, behavior change, user research and wearable technology. She is a ramblin’ wreck with a master’s degree in industrial design from Georgia Tech.