Everyday Materials for Physical Interactive Systems

Everyday Materials for Physical Interactive SystemsWe live in a built environment shaped by a wide range of materials engineered for different purposes. Computers have permeated many aspects of this built environment, from living spaces to clothing. This ubiquitous computing context requires a new way of looking at the materiality of interactive systems. I am particularly drawn towards everyday materials as a resource for designing and making physical interactive systemsa subset of computational

We live in a built environment shaped by a wide range of materials engineered for different purposes. Computers have permeated many aspects of this built environment, from living spaces to clothing. This ubiquitous computing context requires a new way of looking at the materiality of interactive systems. I am particularly drawn towards everyday materials as a resource for designing and making physical interactive systemsÑa subset of computational composites where physical materials come together in a coherent assembly for human interaction. In my explorations, I leveraged everyday materials to surface new techniques for building computational composites. Inspired by the success of these explorations, I facilitated a class with graduate students who explored everyday materials for interaction design.