Dissertation Title: Electric Textures: Synthesizing Cyber-Physical Material Interfaces

Abstract:

In this thesis, I develop a series of fabrication platforms that employ a range of materials (liquid crystal elastomers, functional voxels, and bubble fluid), assembly processes (handmade, rapid prototyping machines, and industrial equipment), and application scenarios (actuating wearables, reconfigurable furniture, and transient architectures). These toolkits are designed to help designers create Electric Textures: physically transforming interfaces centered around the digitally controllable look and feel of physical materials. First, across three publications on liquid crystal elastomer fibers, I detail the process of maturing soft electromechanical fabrics from small-scale hand weaving to a medium-scale DIY fiber spinning setup, and ultimately to large-scale industrial knitting. Second, I develop functional voxels as an inexpensive prototyping tool to create human-scale objects with robust and reconfigurable electrical and mechanical properties. Third, I collaborate with theatrical designers to create a series of programmable bubble machines that produce clouds, mountains, and snow for short-lived, large-scale elements. Through this research-by-design of technical systems, I illustrate the challenges and opportunities of integrating materials science with interaction design. This holistic approach enables the generation of novel computer interfaces with rich, multisensory experiences that represent Electric Textures as an instinctive counterpoint to screen-based interaction.

Committee members:

Hiroshi Ishii
Jerome B. Wiesner Professor of Media Arts and Sciences
MIT Media Lab

Neil Gershenfeld
Director, Center for Bits and Atoms
MIT Media Lab

Scott Hudson
Professor
Carnegie Mellon University