Anton Nijholt
University of Twente, Netherlands
Title: Playful and Artistic Smart Material Interfaces
Biography
Biography: Anton Nijholt
Abstract
In this talk we draw attention to the emerging field of smart material interfaces. These novel composites, that in some cases are already celebrated as the answer for the 21st century’s technological needs, are generally referred to as materials that are capable of sensing the environment and actively responding to environmental changes by changing their physical properties. That is, smart materials have physical properties that can be changed or controlled by external stimuli such as electric or magnetic fields, light, temperature or stress. Shape, size and color are among the properties that can be changed. Smart material interfaces are physical interfaces that utilize these materials to sense the environment and display responses by changing their physical properties. Some common smart materials appear in the form of polymers, ceramics, memory metals or hydro-gels. This talk aims at stimulating research and development in interfaces that make novel use of such smart materials. Smart material interfaces can be applied in different domains and used for different purposes: functional, communicative and creative. We will also discuss our own experiences with smart material interfaces. We will show examples of creative artifacts designed by students of the Fine Arts Academy in Venice and by primary school children using thermo-chromic and conductive ink for the design of ‘electronic’ Origami.