In my research, I work on creating computational materials with different encoded material properties (e.g., conductivity, transparency, water-solubility, self-assembly, etc.) that can be seamlessly integrated in our living environment to enrich different modalities of information communication. The material composition, structures and operating logic of a variety of physical objects existing in everyday life determine how we interact with them. The intelligence of the environmental agents, from surfaces to objects or even bigger infrastructures, not only rely on the encoded computational abilities within the “brain” (like the controllers of home appliances), but also the physical intelligence encoded in their “body” (e.g., materials, mechanical structures).
Please also refer my positioning paper about “environmental physical intelligence”.
As the key vision of ubiquitous computing is to “weave the technologies into the fabric of everyday life”, our today’s everyday environment, from 2D surfaces, to 2.5D textures or even 3D artifacts are still inert and not endowed with any sensing or actuating capabilities. I envision to construct a computational environment that consists of “robotic materials” that can sense the environment and deliver information outputs. They should provide a more natural interaction modality, and more importantly, highly-accessible to a wide range of users to use and even create their own.
For example, PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) as a typical water soluble material can be computationally designed with different levels of water-solubility (e.g., by alternating thickness, porosity, hydrolyzed level) within the same sheet that can respond to different levels of water existence (e.g., moisture, flood).
Can physical intelligence embedded environment sense, communicate or make responses?
IMWUT’21
CHI’22
CHI’23
Sensing Wall
Robotic Sheet
Interactive Texture
But where will the devices go after they are not used anymore, and are they still powered by batteries?
“From physical intelligence to sustainable physical intelligence”
I see the opportunities to utilize novel manufacturing approaches and materials to redesign our living environment by encoding physical intelligence to it, but what is still missing is where will these devices go after they fulfill the usefulness. So, I propose "sustainable physical intelligence" which will not only help shape devices' performance or interaction from users, but meanwhile determines devices' life expectancy and alleviate environmental burdens. I envision that one day 3D printing chocolates may encode Wi-Fi access password and be securely disposed by simply eating; a vivid artificial flower made of completely bio-degradable shape changing materials can deliver emotional interactions; and a surface filled with expandable particles can convey sensible tactile information and meanwhile can be entirely recycled for making new devices.
A more sustainable version for the water-leakage sensor could be the device made out of biodegradable hydrogel, with printed LC resonator design. The device starts as a water-leakage sensor for your home, as it senses the existence of water, it is also self-powered by water's potential energy, later it degrades and breaks down naturally, reconfigures itself into a soil moisture sensor that flows into your garden. Over time, it breaks down into compost without adding any environmental burden.
We should also re-evaluate these devices through a sustainability lense, can our devices easily _________?
IMWUT’20
IMWUT’20
CHI’23