Ethnocomputing with electronic textiles

TLDR

Ethnocomputing has been pursued to improve indigenous participation in computer science, and electronic textiles—sewable microcontrollers connected via conductive thread—provide a tangible platform for such engagement. This paper extends culturally responsive computing by using electronic textiles that integrate traditional crafting and sewing to teach engineering and computing while engaging local indigenous knowledge. The study employed LilyPad Arduino‑based e‑textile projects in a junior high Native Arts class and a summer camp, where 12‑15‑year‑old Native American youth designed and built circuits through sewing. The results indicate that a culturally responsive open‑design e‑textile approach offers both productive and challenging contexts for design agency and cultural connection among American Indian youth, informing broader introductory computational activities.

Abstract

There have been many efforts to increase access and participation of indigenous communities in computer science education using ethnocomputing. In this paper, we extend culturally responsive computing by using electronic textiles that leverage traditional crafting and sewing practices to help students learn about engineering and computing as they also engage with local indigenous knowledges. Electronic textiles include sewable microcontrollers that can be connected to sensors and actuators by stitching circuits with conductive thread. We present findings from a junior high Native Arts class and an academically-oriented summer camp in which Native American youth ages 12-15 years created individual and collective e-textile designs using the LilyPad Arduino. In our discussion we address how a culturally responsive open design approach to ethnocomputing with e-textile activities can provide a productive but also challenging context for design agency and cultural connections for American Indian youth, and how these findings can inform the design of a broader range of introductory computational activities for all.