Prototyping with 3D printing depends heavily on virtual modeling, which requires expertise and often leads to scale mismatches and inefficient iteration. Physical deformation through heating is possible but challenging, as heating is difficult to control and deformation remains complex. We introduce TF-Shell, a thermoformable shell that enables repeatable, localized thermoforming of 3D-printed prototypes. Leveraging shape-memory properties, TF-Shell allows 3D-printed objects to achieve volumetric deformation, restoration, and shape memorization within the physical prototyping process. With customizable features, it can be embedded into free-form models through a design tool. A user study shows that TF-Shell provides intuitive, convenient physical modification and expands iteration beyond virtual modeling. Technical evaluations confirm its thermoformability and repeatability, establishing TF-Shell as a practical approach for integrating physical deformation into 3D printing workflows.

We present FlexBoard, an interaction prototyping platform that enables rapid prototyping with interactive components such as sensors, actuators and displays on curved and deformable objects. FlexBoard offers the rapid prototyping capabilities of traditional breadboards but is also flexible to conform to different shapes and materials. FlexBoard’s bendability is enabled by replacing the rigid body of a breadboard with a flexible living hinge that holds the metal strips from a traditional breadboard while maintaining the standard pin spacing. In addition, FlexBoards are also shape-customizable as they can be cut to a specific length and joined together to form larger prototyping areas. We discuss FlexBoard’s mechanical design and present a technical evaluation of its bendability, adhesion to curved and deformable surfaces, and holding force of electronic components. Finally, we show the usefulness of FlexBoard through 3 application scenarios with interactive textiles, curved tangible user interfaces, and VR.

In this paper, we propose SensorViz, a visualization tool that supports novice makers during different stages of prototyping with sensors. SensorViz provides three modes of visualization: (1) visualizing datasheet specifications before buying sensors, (2) visualizing sensor interaction with the environment via AR before building the physical prototype, and (3) visualizing live/recorded sensor data to test the assembled prototype. SensorViz includes a library of visualization primitives for different types of sensor data and a sensor database builder, which once a new sensor is added automatically creates a matching visualization by composing visualization primitives. Our user study with 12 makers shows that users are more effective in selecting sensors and configuring sensor layouts using SensorViz compared to traditional prototyping utilizing datasheets and manual testing on the prototype. Our post hoc interviews indicate that SensorViz reduces trial and error by allowing makers to explore sensor positions on the prototype early in the design process.

The 3D pen has become a popular crafting tool where hands-on deformations are largely engaged. However, as malleable states are invisible, users might be burnt, or their fabrication might fail. We designed a thermochromic 3D filament, ChromoFilament, that displays the malleable states in three different colors according to the associated temperatures. From color design workshops, we identified proper stages of malleability and design considerations for color combinations, which are applied to ChromoFilament. Next, we depict a way to fabricate ChromoFilament from customizing thermochromic ink to extruding with the coated pellets. Finally, we illustrate the users’ distinctive behaviors with ChromoFilament to imply the effects of visible malleable states. We believe that our material-perspective approach, design process, and a series of findings could not only inspire supporting creativity through thermoforming but also heat-based processing in 3D printing.

As young children’s screen time has significantly increased in recent years, their healthy use of digital media is a topic of interest. To support children’s healthy screen use, we are developing Romi, a physical screen peripheral device interface. Romi was designed to help children to transition from screen to out-of-screen by reducing negative experiences when ending screen time. To specify the design concept, we conducted the preliminary interview and experience prototyping focusing on screen-time transition. Based on design attributes which are the peripheral presence, the connection between screen and device, and friendly character, we implemented Romi interface. We believe our approach will provide motivation and inspiration for designing a physical interface for supporting children’s self-regulation.

In this paper, we present a metamaterial structure called thermoformable cells, TF-Cells, to enrich thermoforming for post-print modification. So far, thermoforming is limitedly applied for modifying a 3D printed object due to its low thermal conductivity. TF-Cells consists of beam arrays that affluently pass hot air and have high heat transference. Through heating the embedded TF-Cells of the printed object, users can modify not only the deeper area of the object surface but also its form factor. With a series of technical experiments, we investigated TF-Cells’ thermoformability, depending on their structure’s parameters, orientations, and heating conditions. Next, we present a series of compound cells consisting of TF-Cells and solid structure to adjust stiffness or reduce undesirable shape deformation. Adapting the results from the experiments, we built a simple tool for embedding TF-Cells into a 3D model. Using the tool, we implemented examples under contexts of mechanical fitting, ergonomic fitting, and aesthetic tuning.

Despite the popularity of fish as pets, there is little knowledge available about the fishkeeping experience and the related interactions. In this regard, this study aims to look into the experience of fishkeeping by supporting people's actions through a tech-mediated system. Based on the results, an interactive system called BubbleTalk was developed to help people to convey their actions using bubbles into a fish tank. A user study was conducted with BubbleTalk, and the results showed that the interaction through BubbleTalk varied people's behavior, prolonged their interaction and thus reshaped their relationship with fish. Beyond the implications for fishkeeping, we believe that our findings could serve as insight and further motivation for overcoming interactions limited by this physically disconnected environment.

Nowadays, it is easy to find concepts for connecting mobile devices and looking at photos together. Despite the increasing interest in multi-device single display groupware (multi-device SDG), most of the existing research is limited to using a rectangular form array to enlarge the display. In this paper, we suggest a new way of assembling mobile devices to create unique forms, such as ring, bar, rectangle and radial shape displays, and investigate their inter-device interaction characteristics. We conducted generative workshops on a game domain to understand the characteristics of those interfaces. Directionality, inter-device space, and tangible interactions were extracted. By applying the derived characteristics, we have developed three different collaborative games using different types of interfaces. Through user studies of the developed games, we refined the characteristics and found additional design issues. The inter-device interaction characteristics and issues of multi-device SDG obtained from this study could be generally applied to collocated multi-mobile interactions.