Kinetic sketchup

Abstract

Physical malleability is emerging as an important element of interaction design as advances in material science and computational control give rise to new possibilities in actuated products and transformable environments. However, this transition also produces a new range of design problems-how do we visualize, imagine, and design the physical processes of transformation? We must create tools for intuitive motion investigation to train and develop our motions sensibilities in 3D space, moving towards interfaces that makes sketching with motion as easy as drawing with paper and pencil? This paper presents Kinetic Sketchup, an approach to a design language for motion prototyping featuring a series of actuated physically programmable modules which investigate the rich interplay of mechanical, behavioral and material design parameters which motion enables.