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I am an artist interested in the ways in which technologies influence the way we think about, and with, our bodies, and currently teach in the Department of Media Study at University at Buffalo, State University of New York.  I became interested in wearable computing after working on Teri Rueb's early locative media work (Trace, 1999) and while studying theories of embodiment and Human-Computer Interaction at the University of California Irvine.

How did you get the idea for "Palpable City", and what kind of thoughts did you feel during the process of getting the work accomplished?
I had been interested in architectural representations of space, and the difference between the abstract and concrete. In Palpable City, a very abstract, mathematical model is used to touch the wearer - a very concrete and sensory experience. I am interested in playing in the areas in-between.

Wearable computing and art. How do you get these two concepts to become a unit in "Palpable City".
It can very difficult to do work that spans disciplines, but that has been the majority of my training.  When I first made Palpable City, I was interested in using the language and techniques of the discipline of computer science in order to critique it.  In order to have an voice, you first need to get a seat at the table. This is why I have often presented my work in Computer Science venues as well.

Final question: What kind of reactions has you been given by people who has tried to use the wearable interface in your project?
It has ranged from people who became immersed and engaged the work thoughtfully, to those who jumped as if they were stung by a bee when they touched it. It is an unusual experience.