Felt Sensors is a suite of four sensors built using soft circuits and fabrication techniques developed as my thesis while studying at NYU in the Interactive Telecommunications Program.
Through rigorous experimentation the sensors developed were:
Dual Force Sensing
Force can be applied by squeezing on one axis of the sphere, which will give you one range of values. Squeeze on the opposing axis and it will give a second range of values. Made from sewing machine stitched resistors with conductive thread coupled with handmade conductive felt, encased in wool felt, connections made with D-Sub and female crimp connectors.
Tri-Control Button
Two digital switches and one analog switch is built into this large red button. Modeled after the “history erase button” from the cartoon The Ren and Stimpy Show. One digital switch is turned on while pressing from the top, the other digital switch, when squeezed from the side. Lastly, an variable resistor can be accessed when the button shape is squeezed from the opposing side marked by a small pink dot for orientation. Made of sewing machine stitched resistors, handmade conductive felt, cond. fabric, cond. thread and wool felt.
Stretch Sensor
Built out of three separate handmade crocheted stretch sensors using elastic, conductive thread and wool yarn. Then felted afterwards to improve elasticity. This sensor can be stretched along 3 isolated lengths to produce 3 separate ranges of values, or when put in series, can be stretched along the entire length giving one large range of values.
Pinch and Location
Comprised of 4 long spikes, when pulled from the base up towards the point you get a linear range of resistance. When pinched along the length, you are able to pinpoint a specific value along the linear range. Made of resistive thread, conductive thread and nylon netting. Encased in needle felted wool.
