Materials of interaction : responsive materials in the design of transformable interactive surfaces

Materials that embody computational properties are reshaping the ways in which we design, interact and communicate. This thesis looks at the topic of form transformation and how to bring the programmability and versatility of digital forms into the physical world. The focus is placed on the relationship between materials, form and interaction, in particular how the behavior and properties of shape-changing materials can support the design of transformable interactive surfaces. Three design implementations are presented, each addressing a distinct subject area in the design of form transformation, namely topology, texture and permeability. Surflex is a composite that uses active and passive shape-changing materials to undergo large surface deformations. Sprout I/O implements small shape deformations and co-located input/output at a surface boundary to create a dynamic texture for communication. Shutters uses shape change to regulate a surface’s permeability and control environmental exchanges between two distinct spaces. Drawing lessons from these projects, a soft mechanical alphabet and language for form transformation are derived, providing new formal possibilities for enriching human-computer interactions. Thesis Supervisor Pattie Maes Associate Professor of Media Technology Program in Media Arts and Sciences Materials of Interaction Responsive Materials in the Design of Transformable Interactive Surfaces

[1]  V. Interrante Conveying 3-D shape and depth with textured and transparent surfaces , 2003 .

[2]  Amit Zoran,et al.  Considering Virtual & Physical Aspects in Acoustic Guitar Design , 2008, NIME.

[3]  Steve Mann,et al.  “Smart clothing”: wearable multimedia computing and “personal imaging” to restore the technological balance between people and their environments , 1997, MULTIMEDIA '96.

[4]  J. Chiodo,et al.  Active disassembly using shape memory polymers for the mobile phone industry , 1999, Proceedings of the 1999 IEEE International Symposium on Electronics and the Environment (Cat. No.99CH36357).

[5]  Ara N. Knaian,et al.  Design of programmable matter , 2008 .

[6]  Gangbing Song,et al.  Position control of shape memory alloy actuators with internal electrical resistance feedback using neural networks , 2004 .

[7]  Greg Lynn Animate form : a book & interactive CD-ROM , 1999 .

[8]  D. Tyler,et al.  Stimuli-Responsive Polymer Nanocomposites Inspired by the Sea Cucumber Dermis , 2008, Science.

[9]  D. Lagoudas,et al.  Introduction to Shape Memory Alloys , 2021, Advanced Topics of Thin-Walled Structures.

[10]  David Haberstich Photography and the Plastic Arts , 1973 .

[11]  Victoria Interrante,et al.  Conveying the 3D Shape of Smoothly Curving Transparent Surfaces via Texture , 1997, IEEE Trans. Vis. Comput. Graph..

[12]  L. Schetky Shape-memory alloys , 1979 .

[13]  Hiroshi Ishii,et al.  Tangible bits: towards seamless interfaces between people, bits and atoms , 1997, CHI.

[14]  Hiroshi Ishii,et al.  Surflex: a programmable surface for the design of tangible interfaces , 2008, CHI Extended Abstracts.

[15]  Ivan E. Sutherland,et al.  Sketchpad: a man-machine graphical communication system , 1899, AFIPS '63 (Spring).

[16]  Fabian Hemmert,et al.  Dynamic knobs: shape change as a means of interaction on a mobile phone , 2008, CHI Extended Abstracts.

[17]  A Roberts,et al.  History of a machine. , 1977, Science.

[18]  James H. Mabe,et al.  Full-scale flight tests of aircraft morphing structures using SMA actuators , 2007, SPIE Smart Structures and Materials + Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring.

[19]  Roger G. Gilbertson,et al.  Muscle Wires Project Book , 2000 .

[20]  Marcelo Coelho Programming the Material World A Proposition for the Application and Design of Transitive Materials , 2007 .

[21]  Colin Potts,et al.  Design of Everyday Things , 1988 .

[22]  A. Johnson,et al.  STATE-OFTHE-ART OF SHAPE MEMORY ACTUATORS , 2003 .

[23]  V. Michael Bove,et al.  The bar of soap: a grasp recognition system implemented in a multi-functional handheld device , 2008, CHI Extended Abstracts.

[24]  James H. Aylor,et al.  Computer for the 21st Century , 1999, Computer.

[25]  Betty Edwards,et al.  The new drawing on the right side of the brain workbook : guided practice in the five basic skills of drawing , 1979 .

[26]  Hayes Raffle,et al.  The sound of touch: physical manipulation of digital sound , 2008, CHI.

[27]  Rikard Stankiewicz,et al.  The concept of “design space” , 2000 .

[28]  Neil Gershenfeld,et al.  E-broidery: Design and fabrication of textile-based computing , 2000, IBM Syst. J..

[29]  Charalabos C. Doumanidis,et al.  Active deformable sheets: prototype implementation, modeling, and control , 2003 .

[30]  Rudy Stalmans,et al.  Shape Memory Alloys, Types and Functionalities , 2002 .

[31]  Ivan Poupyrev,et al.  Actuation and tangible user interfaces: the Vaucanson duck, robots, and shape displays , 2007, TEI.

[32]  Joanna Berzowska,et al.  Electronic Textiles: Wearable Computers, Reactive Fashion, and Soft Computation , 2005 .

[33]  Mark Garcia Architecture + Textiles = Architextiles , 2006 .

[34]  Wenwei Yu,et al.  Morpho-functional machine: design of an amoebae model based on the vibrating potential method , 1999, Robotics Auton. Syst..

[35]  Sigvard Strandh Christopher Polhem and his mechanical alphabet , 1988 .

[36]  Axel Ritter,et al.  Smart Materials in Architecture, Interior Architecture and Design , 2006 .

[37]  Ivan Poupyrev,et al.  Gummi: a bendable computer , 2004, CHI '04.

[38]  Pattie Maes,et al.  Sprout I/O: a texturally rich interface , 2008, TEI.

[39]  Pattie Maes,et al.  Pulp-based computing: a framework for building computers out of paper , 2009, CHI Extended Abstracts.

[40]  J. Perkins,et al.  The Two-Way Shape Memory Effect , 1990 .

[41]  M. Mcluhan Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man , 1964 .

[42]  Nick Jones,et al.  Electrically self-powered active disassembly , 2004 .

[43]  C. M. Jackson,et al.  55-Nitinol - The Alloy with a Memory: It's Physical Metallurgy Properties, and Applications. NASA SP-5110 , 1972 .

[44]  David Bordwell,et al.  On the history of film style , 1997 .

[45]  Jérôme Szewczyk,et al.  A low-cost highly-portable tactile display based on shape memory alloy micro-actuators , 2005, IEEE Symposium on Virtual Environments, Human-Computer Interfaces and Measurement Systems, 2005..

[46]  Shi-Liang Zhu,et al.  Characteristics of two-way shape memory TiNi springs driven by electrical current , 2004 .

[47]  Hiroshi Ishii,et al.  SpeakCup: simplicity, BABL, and shape change , 2008, Tangible and Embedded Interaction.

[48]  Tom Gunning The Cinema of Attractions Early Film, Its Spectator and the Avant-Garde , 1990 .

[49]  Joseph A. Paradiso,et al.  Distributed sensor networks as sensate skin , 2003, Proceedings of IEEE Sensors 2003 (IEEE Cat. No.03CH37498).

[50]  J. Williams,et al.  Haptic chameleon: a new concept of shape-changing user interface controls with force feedback , 2004, CHI EA '04.

[51]  X. Zu,et al.  Effect of thermomechanical training temperature on the two-way shape memory effect of TiNi and TiNiCu shape memory alloys springs , 2003 .

[52]  Refractor Metamorphoses , 1868, The Lancet.

[53]  T. Tadaki,et al.  Shape Memory Alloys , 2002 .

[54]  Donald D. Hoffman,et al.  Visual Intelligence: How We Create What We See , 1998 .

[55]  D. Maynes-Aminzade,et al.  The actuated workbench: computer-controlled actuation in tabletop tangible interfaces , 2003, ACM Trans. Graph..

[56]  Jan O. Borchers,et al.  Twend: twisting and bending as new interaction gesture in mobile devices , 2008, CHI Extended Abstracts.

[57]  D. W. Thompson On Growth and Form: The Complete Revised Edition , 1992 .

[58]  Chris Rogers,et al.  Caterpillar locomotion: A new model for soft- bodied climbing and burrowing robots , 2006 .

[59]  Rohit Trivedi,et al.  Materials in Art and Technology , 1998 .

[60]  Marcelo Coelho,et al.  Kukkia and Vilkas: kinetic electronic garments , 2005, Ninth IEEE International Symposium on Wearable Computers (ISWC'05).

[61]  Hiroshi Ishii,et al.  Topobo: a constructive assembly system with kinetic memory , 2004, CHI.