What would the interfaces feel and look like if they are made of textiles?
From light switches to smartphones, we interact with many electronic interfaces every day. But whether they are made of plastic or glass, almost all of them are hard surfaces.
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Why do we limit ourselves when conductive textiles can do the same? What would the interfaces feel and look like if they are made of textiles?
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To find the answer, 5 ways of interaction, a series of smart textile interfaces, was created. The inspirations for the interactions root in our everyday interactions with fabrics and fibers.
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The material (natural fibers) and the structure (woven fabrics or spun yarns) dramatically improved the feeling of the interaction.
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All components are easy to separate from one another and replace, making it repairable and recyclable.
These are the interfaces my hands interact with everydayâ€. ‬
They are buttonsâ€, ‬togglesâ€, ‬potentiometersâ€, ‬joysticksâ€, ‬touchpadsâ€, ‬touchscreensâ€, ‬and they are all hard surfacesâ€. ‬Hard surfaces might be nice to look atâ€, ‬yet not so much to be touchedâ€, ‬especially for people like me who sweat a lotâ€. ‬
In addition, the material is a fundamental factor influencing the formâ€, ‬which made me wonderâ€, ‬what an interface would look like if it was†not hardâ€?‬
Lightflow.
Lightflow pushes the interactive play between smart textiles and light further. Winding conductive yarn with cotton yarn creates a continuous organic interface that moves with the movements of the hand.
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Because it is cableless and lightweight, light flows through the fingertips, and the action of dimming has similarities to playing an instrument.
Construction
