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

Abstract

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.