Visual   






2017
LIVE JACKET
Wearable Connectivity
  • Lesvos, Greece • Cornell University Undergraduate Thesis • Advisors: Caroline O’Donnell + Sasa Zivkovic

The island of Lesvos in Greece is a prime tourist destination, home to 85,000 permanent residents, and in a microcosm of the refugee crisis. Over one million refugees have endured and survived deadly sea crossings to reach this gateway into Europe.  For many refugees, access to technology has become a lifeline:  they are using their mobile phones to communicate, navigate, document, and more. The biggest issues regarding mobile phone access in refugee camps and while in transit are Wi-Fi and electricity access.  Using recycled material from discarded life jackets the Live Jacket responds to basic needs for refugees while providing them with a digital platform. It transforms from a life jacket, to a regular jacket, to a blanket, and aggregates into varying architectural forms. Technology is embedded into the fabric, transforming the jacket into an autonomous Wi-Fi shelter, electricity hub, and habitation node. The aggregated spaces serve as social pop-up spaces for refugees and locals, shifting the ways public spaces are formed in Greece.

***

    fig.1 Live Jacket  aggregated  
    fig.2 Relative size of European countries by number of refugee arrivals in 2015
    fig.3 Refugee camps in Greece

    fig.4 Existing cellular coverage in Lesvos
    fig.5 Closed shops due to the debt crisis, along a main street in Lesvos
    fig.9 Unfolded Live Jacket with components
    fig.10 Folding and aggregation steps
    fig.11 Aggregation steps (medium)
    fig.12 Aggregation steps (large)
    fig.13 Human Wi-Fi nodes: plan view of congregations

    fig.14 Small
    fig.15 Large

    fig.16 Live Jacket




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