Proximi:Tie is a bow tie that acts as a physical representation of intimacy by reacting to the ever-changing amount of personal space its wearer is experiencing. The tie conceals 40 LEDs, 3 vibe boards and an infrared sensor. Using proximity sensing, it detects the distance of an approaching person from the wearer.

When the wearer is not in close proximity to another person, the lights slowly flicker on and off and no vibration is released. As the wearer’s amount of personal space lessens, the flickering pattern changes more rapidly and a small, constant vibration is emitted.

By becoming increasingly more active during close proximity, Proximi:Tie visually (to the approaching person) and tactilely (to the wearer) reinforces the wearer’s increased feelings of excitement, either of intimacy or anxiety, that are elicited by these encounters.