Project-3

This design project is an open-ended exploration of the tactile qualities associated with soft pneumatic buttons through rapid prototyping using heat sealable nylon fabric. Soft pneumatics and haptics are relatively new topics within the design and HCI community. These new interfaces may benefit from broad exploration into the different qualities associated with soft pneumatics such as texture, which is further explored through a data-powered approach including a user test.

Through a design process characterized by very broad exploration, thematic analysis, standardization of the manufacturing process for more effective targeted exploration, and a user-test and data driven approach, this design project arrives at unique proposals for use-cases of soft pneumatic interfaces. This design project also demonstrates how different unusual manufacturing and designing techniques can be applied within the field of design and design through research.

A photo of our broad exploration, left starts with geometric explorations such as multiple chambers inlets and shapes, center top is textures, right side is additional materials such as TPU and metal rods inserted. Bottom right is a different sealing technique. all the way top right is the failed buttons.

Geometric exploration of penumatic buttons. Inflated geometry deforms in interesting ways.

Testing pads allow for rapid testing of multiple textures in the same scenario.

Testing pads stimulate touching interaction through their design.

Textures can have embedded messages like this example showing the number 3.

Textures can change material rigidity and influence other types of tactile interaction.

Repeating textures stack deformation.

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