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Zhuzhi FAN

Tuesday, May 7th, 2024

Interaction through programmable soft materials

Abstract:

Shape-changing user interfaces (UIs) have been increasingly studied in human-computer interaction (HCI) due to their ability to adapt the interaction to data, tasks, environment, and users. The emergence of programmable soft materials has enabled HCI researchers to design soft, shape-changing UIs with high flexibility. Soft materials like silicone have attracted HCI researchers’ interest due to their compliance with the human body for wearable applications and their remarkable shape-morphing ability. However, little is known about users’ ability to perceive the shape of soft shape-changing UIs and the impact of UIs’ softness on users’ shape perception ability. Moreover, the possibility and challenges of building soft, shape-changing UIs have hardly been discussed.

This Ph.D. thesis addresses three main research questions: (1) How do users perceive soft shape-changing UIs? (2) Which soft shape-changing UIs can be developed, and what are the challenges? and (3) What can soft shape-changing UIs be used for? Firstly, a psychophysical experiment is conducted to study users’ shape perception ability with surfaces under different softness. Secondly, the possibility and challenges of constructing shape-changing interfaces with soft materials are explored. In particular, a new technology is proposed to build soft shape-changing UIs with strength tunability. Lastly, two case studies are presented: The adaptation of the shape of the surface at the back of a mobile phone following the demonstration of the asymmetric efficiency of dominant and non-dominant hands at the back of the device and the study of the perception of a soft shape-changing surface at the back of a smartwatch.

Date and place

Tuesday, May 7th 2024 à 9h45
IMAG Building, Auditorium

Zoom Link

Jury members

ANNE ROUDAUT
FULL PROFESSOR   UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL   Rapporteure
JAN  BORCHERS
FULL PROFESSOR   RHEINISCH-WESTFALISCHE TECH. HOCH. AA   Rapporteur
LAURENCE NIGAY
PROFESSEURE DES UNIVERSITES   UNIVERSITE GRENOBLE ALPES   Examinatrice
MAUD MARCHAL
PROFESSEURE DES UNIVERSITES   INSA RENNES   Examinatrice
KENING ZHU
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR   CITY UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG   Examinateur
CELINE  COUTRIX
CHARGEE DE RECHERCHE HDR   CNRS DELEGATION ALPES   Directrice de thèse BENOÎT ROMAN
DIRECTEUR DE RECHERCHE   CNRS DELEGATION PARIS CENTRE   Co-Directeur de thèse

Submitted on May 13, 2024

Updated on September 19, 2024