LOOP
A wearable and iOS system exploring more personal control over overwhelming sound.
Less noise, without leaving the world
Auditory hypersensitivity can make an ordinary environment feel unpredictable and intense. LOOP asks how a wearable might filter out unwanted sound while preserving the awareness and agency of the person wearing it. The concept became a working system—not just a form study—so the experience could be felt, discussed, and refined.
From an open question to something buildable
Observation and early trials grounded the project in the situations where sound became difficult to manage. Working alongside two industrial designers, those scenarios became concrete constraints: comfort, portability, legible feedback, and controls that remained simple under stress.
Increasing fidelity to answer different questions
The form evolved through appearance models, material studies, and functional builds. Each prototype isolated a question—proportion, fit around the head, component packaging, access to controls, or the legibility of illuminated feedback—before those decisions were combined in a working enclosure.
One interaction across hardware and software
A Swift iOS app connects to the wearable over Bluetooth Low Energy, exposes two listening modes and live audio feedback, and keeps its interface synchronized with the device. An embedded controller translates those commands into operating modes and matching LED feedback. Together, the app and wearable behave as one continuous interface rather than separate software and hardware demos.
