Interactive fabrication
In 2011, with Karl Willis and Kuanju Wu at the Computational Design Lab, CMU, we coined the concept of ‘Interactive fabrication’. We aim to more closely linking input to output we can allow designers to benefit from computer controlled machinery and at the same time re-establish a relationship with the physical fabrication process.
prototype
To demonstrate, I built prototype devices that use real-time input to fabricate physical form.
Shaper
Shaper is a prototype device that uses a three-axis computer numerical control (CNC) machine to interactively dispense expanding polyurethane foam material. The user controls the device via a translucent touch screen to create physical artifacts with sketch-like gestures. Shaper challenges the conventional process of digital fabrication by allowing direct interactive control.
Speaker
Speaker interactively sculpts wire forms based on sound input. The user stands in front of the device and speaks into a small microphone.
An Arduino micro-controller is embedded in the device to calculate a simplified contour from the recorded sound wave. Two motors are used to push and bend the metal wire into shape.
The device explores the immediacy of the fabrication process by linking an ephemeral passage of sound to a physical entity. It furthermore acts as a means for the spoken word to be transcribed into an artifact of meaning.
selected exposure
BBC News “physical presentation of sounds waves”
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-12921607
Design Museum of Barcelona Interaction I/O/I exhibiton, 21th June 2011 to August 2012
http://ajuntament.barcelona.cat/dissenyhub/ca
New Scientist Homebrew technology: Love letter meets Jewelry
https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19524-homebrew-technology-love-letter-meets-jewellery/
Rayburn House 3D/DC 2011
Demonstrate interactive fabrication to congressman
ACM SIGCHI TEI, Funchal, Portugal, 2011
Maker Faire New York 2010