We devote little to designing that resonates with our capacity for sensing in all the manners known and yet to be known – a capacity that allows us to perceive beyond the self. In this research, we approach tactility as liminality in which we notice our entanglement with the landscape. To this end, we conducted field research with rocks across Lake Ohrid and Galichica Mountain in North Macedonia. The gathered experience was assessed in a post-field autoethnography, yielding insights that inform the prospective design of an interactive book on the tactile knowledge of entangled existences. Across tactile interactions, drawings, notes, and reflexivity, we traced situated and local ways of knowing-with, which led us to recall belonging with the landscape as kinship, as accountability for anthropocentrism, and as co-crafting with rocks, water, lichen, moss, fish, shell, algae, and the matter of all possible others.

To enhance the dining experience, prior studies in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and gastrophysics have demonstrated that modifying the static shape of solid foods can amplify taste perception. However, the exploration of dynamic shape-changing mechanisms in liquid foods remains largely untapped. In the present study, we employ cymatics, a scientific discipline focused on utilizing sound frequencies to generate patterns in liquids and particles—to augment the drinking experience. Utilizing speakers, we dynamically reshaped liquids exhibiting five distinct taste profiles and evaluated resultant changes in taste perception and drinking experience. Our research objectives extend beyond merely augmenting taste from visual to tactile sensations; we also prioritize the experiential aspects of drinking. Through a series of experiments and workshops, we revealed a significant impact on taste perception and overall drinking experience when mediated by cymatics effects. Building upon these findings, we designed and developed tableware to integrate cymatics principles into gastronomic experiences.

In this study, we propose the design and implementation of a smart textile using conductive sequins produced by a 3D printer based on traditional sequin embroidery.

This study proposes a method of fabricating jamming user interfaces using multi-material 3D printing. Through customized fabrication software, users can decide the properties of components of the interface, such as the size/shape of beads. The software automatically renders a membrane and an inner complex of beads after users decide the properties, which simplifies the manufacturing process of the jamming interface. Moreover, 3D printing allows the interface to have a double structure consisting of multiple rooms functioning jamming independently, which realizes a richer haptic experience. Finally, this paper describes the manufacturing process of the jamming interface using 3D modeling software/3D printing. It demonstrates the merits of this method with several applications, such as the haptic device and the shape-changing controller.

In this research, we used traditional sequin embroidery as the basis and a 3D printer to expand the design space of sequin materials and structures, by developing a new 2.5D smart conductive sequin textile with multiple sensing and interactions as well as providing users with a customizing system for automated design and manufacturing.

ExpandFab is a fabrication method for creating expanding objects using foam materials. The printed objects change their shape and volume, which is advantageous for reducing the printing time and transportation costs. For the fabrication of expanding objects, we investigated a basic principle of the expansion rate and developed materials by mixing a foam powder and elastic adhesive. Furthermore, we developed a fabrication method using the foam materials. A user can design expanded objects using our design software and sets the expansion areas on the surface. The software simulates and exports the 3d model into a three-dimensional (3D) printer. The 3D printer prints the expandable object by curing with ultraviolet light. Finally, the user heats the printed objects, and the objects expand to maximum approximately 2.7 times of their original size. ExpandFab allows users to prototype products that expand and morph into various shapes, such as objects changing from one shape to various shapes, and functional prototype with electronic components. In this paper, we describe the basic principle of this technique, implementation of the software and hardware, application examples, limitations and discussions, and future works.

We present FoldTronics, a 2D-cutting based fabrication technique to integrate electronics into 3D folded objects. The key idea is to cut and perforate a 2D sheet to make it foldable into a honeycomb structure using a cutting plotter; before folding the sheet into a 3D structure, users place the electronic components and circuitry onto the sheet. The fabrication process only takes a few minutes allowing to rapidly prototype functional interactive devices. The resulting objects are lightweight and rigid, thus allowing for weight-sensitive and force-sensitive applications. Finally, due to the nature of the honeycomb structure, the objects can be folded flat along one axis and thus can be efficiently transported in this compact form factor. We describe the structure of the foldable sheet, and present a design tool that enables users to quickly prototype the desired objects. We showcase a range of examples made with our design tool, including objects with integrated sensors and display elements.

This paper introduces Dynamic 3D Printing, a fast and reconstructable shape formation system. Dynamic 3D Printing can assemble an arbitrary three-dimensional shape from a large number of small physical elements. Also, it can disassemble the shape back to elements and reconstruct a new shape. Dynamic 3D Printing combines the capabilities of 3D printers and shape displays: Like conventional 3D printing, it can generate arbitrary and graspable three-dimensional shapes, while allowing shapes to be rapidly formed and reformed as in a shape display. To demonstrate the idea, we describe the design and implementation of Dynablock, a working prototype of a dynamic 3D printer. Dynablock can form a three-dimensional shape in seconds by assembling 3,000 9 mm blocks, leveraging a 24 x 16 pin-based shape display as a parallel assembler. Dynamic 3D printing is a step toward achieving our long-term vision in which 3D printing becomes an interactive medium, rather than the means for fabrication that it is today. In this paper, we explore possibilities for this vision by illustrating application scenarios that are difficult to achieve with conventional 3D printing or shape display systems.

In this paper, we propose a novel fabrication machine called ProtoMold, which uses interactive vacuum forming system for rapid prototyping. ProtoMold combines a dynamical shape-changing surface that consists of 12 × 8 linear actuators and a vacuum forming system. According to the shape of the surface, this system can mold various 2.5 dimensional objects quickly. Another characteristic of this system is that users can reuse molded objects and change their design; by applying tension and heat to a molded object, the object becomes flat and can be molded again. We also designed user several interaction methods for manipulating ProtoMold. In addition to loading predesigned data, the user can control the shape of the pin display directly using gesture input or physical objects.

This study proposes BlowFab, a prototyping method used to create a 2.5-dimensional prototype in a short time by combining laser cutting and blow molding techniques. The user creates adhesive areas and inflatable areas by engraving and cutting multilayered plastic sheets using a laser cutter. These adhesive areas are fused automatically by overlapping two crafted sheets and softening them with a heater. The user can then create hard prototypes by injecting air into the sheets. Objects can be bent in any direction by cutting incisions or engraving a resistant resin. The user can create uneven textures by engraving a pattern with a heat-resistant film. These techniques can be used for prototyping various strong inflatable objects. The finished prototype is strong and can be collapsed readily for storage when not required. In this study, the design process is described using the proposed method. The study also evaluates possible bending mechanisms and texture expression methods along with various usage scenarios and discusses the resolution, strength, and reusability of the prototype developed.

We propose DrawForming that is able to mold objects quickly and repeatedly by combining a vacuum forming method with a dynamic transformable surface. This fabrication tool can remake objects of various uneven surfaces repeatedly and quickly, using a mold that changes its form dynamically using motors. Moreover, for directly designing forms, we propose an interactive method that can determine uneven points by drawing on a surface. The mold is transformed based on the drawn figures, the users place the heated soft material onto its mold, and the system fabricates the surface of the object by vacuuming from the bottom. Users could create a 3D topographical model using a camera that detects the contour lines of a map, and combine readymade goods and a dynamic mold. In this paper, we describe the design and implementation of this novel interactive method for fabricating surface objects.

This paper presents dePENd, a novel interactive system that assists in sketching using regular pens and paper. Our system utilizes the ferromagnetic feature of the metal tip of a regular ballpoint pen. The computer controlling the X and Y positions of the magnet under the surface of the table provides entirely new drawing experiences. By controlling the movements of a pen and presenting haptic guides, the system allows a user to easily draw diagrams and pictures consisting of lines and circles, which are difficult to create by free-hand drawing. Moreover, the system also allows users to freely edit and arrange prescribed pictures. This is expected to reduce the resistance to drawing and promote users' creativity. In addition, we propose a communication tool using two dePENd systems that is expected to enhance the drawing skills of users. The functions of this system enable users to utilize interactive applications such as copying and redrawing drafted pictures or scaling the pictures using a digital pen. Furthermore, we implement the system and evaluate its technical features. In this paper, we describe the details of the design and implementations of the device, along with applications, technical evaluations, and future prospects.