Active Material Library
The Challenge
Active material fabrication makes use of materials that allow for touch input and information output, leading to the creation of interactive devices that are already being explored in a wide range of areas like augmented living, education and healthcare. Examples of this include smart textiles, wearable electronic devices for monitoring health, and any electronic device with a touchscreen. Pairing this with decentralised design and automated fabrication promises to lower the skill threshold needed to not only prototype but reliably reproduce active material devices.
Currently the resources needed to create active material devices span a wide variety of functional materials, deposition techniques, and assessment criteria. Those interested in working with these devices are similarly diverse, including artists, researchers, industry, and hobbyists, resulting in a lack of communication and knowledge sharing between groups. These issues limit the production of active material devices and restrain the development of the field.
The Solution
The project aims to overcome this barrier through the development of a digital library of active materials and associated fabrication methods. The Active Material Library will bring together diverse communities with an interest in this area to build maker-driven comparison scaffolding of material choices which can be used in design. As a hub for resources and collaboration, it aims to empower even more people to create and replicate their own active material devices.
This project was successful in responding to the pro2 network’s 2023 funding call ‘Replicability‘ which aims to solve challenges related to the replication of digital devices for testing or production purposes.
