PROTOTYPING SHAPE-CHANGING INTERFACES - AN EVALUATION OF LIVING HINGES' ABILITIES TO RESEMBLE ORGANIC, SHAPE-CHANGING INTERFACES

This paper presents an evaluation of nine laser cut living hinges in terms of their ability to resemble earlier defined properties of mechanical shape-changing interfaces. Such interfaces are expected to become more prominent in future human-machine-interactions. However, there is a lack of empirical research regarding how users respond to such interactions since the actual interface can be difficult to build. The project therefore aims to prototype the user experience of a shape-changing interface through more simple methods yet with convincing, robust and organic appearance. Based on previous research we define nine criteria to evaluate the patterns ability to imitate a shape-changing interface. Grounded on those criteria we select the pattern with flexibilities resembling organic behaviour the most. This pattern is used to build the Breathing Box, utilizing a computer-controlled actuator that is able to alter the shape of the surface. Hence, we illustrate how designers can move from low-fidelity prototypes to functional prototypes allowing repeatable experiments. Such controllable experiments in turn allow a quantitative evaluation of user experience of shape-changing interfaces.