SOFI
SOFI: a soft shape-changing interface for smart home systems, utilizing magnetic actuation. SOFI's fabric is made of two textile layers with an embroidery pattern that secures small disk magnets, manipulated by a stepper motor and electromagnet mechanism. By changing the stepper motor's polarity and motions, SOFI can display various shape changes, providing visual and haptic feedback to interact with smart home objects. Smart home system states such as: loading, pairing, error, notification can be expressed through this interface.
Motion patterns
The four motion patterns (MP) created are: (MP1) the stepper motor spins (alternating between clockwise and counterclockwise) while the electromagnet's polarity is set to opposite of the magnets in the fabric, causing it to pull down the fabric as it passes the magnets, (MP2) the stepper motor spins while the electromagnet's polarity is set to the same as the magnets in the fabric, causing it to push away the fabric as it passes the magnets, (MP3) the electromagnet switches between polarities while the stepper motor remains in place, causing the fabric above the electromagnet to pulse and (MP4) the electromagnet switches between polarities while the stepper motor spins, causing the fabric to pulse as the electromagnet passes the magnets.
Motion Pattern GIFs
