ClothSurface: Exploring a Low-Cost Prototyping Tool to Support Ideation for Shape Displays

Jeffrey C F Ho

doi:10.3390/mti3030064

Abstract

A shape-changing user interface is a type of interface that interacts with users by changing its physical form. Although researchers have been extensively studying shape-changing user interfaces, relevant research on its various design aspects—including tools and methods—remains limited. Prototyping shape-changing interfaces often requires sophisticated equipment and knowledge, which makes this sphere of design unwelcoming for designers with limited resources and technical knowledge (e.g., design students). In this study, we propose ClothSurface—a simple and low-cost prototyping tool to design for shape displays—and explore its use through a series of design sessions. The results reveal that ClothSurface can allow inexperienced designers to illustrate their ideas and to explore the design space of shape displays.

Highlights

IntroductionA shape-changing user interface is a relatively new sphere of design that is yet to be fully explored
A shape-changing user interface is a relatively new sphere of design that is yet to be fully explored.there exist only limited methods and tools for designing shape-changing interfaces
This study proposes a tool for prototyping shape-changing interfaces, with a focus on shape displays [1]

Summary

Introduction

A shape-changing user interface is a relatively new sphere of design that is yet to be fully explored. There exist only limited methods and tools for designing shape-changing interfaces. This study proposes a tool for prototyping shape-changing interfaces, with a focus on shape displays [1]. Shape displays refer to a type of shape-changing interface that primarily has a flat surface. In the field of human-computer interaction (HCI), researchers working with shape-changing interfaces have created numerous prototypes to illustrate and test technological advancements and relevant designs [5,6,7]. Building and altering them requires in-depth technical knowledge and/or time and effort

Results

Discussion

Conclusion