The technology allows to transform walls, tables, sofas and many other surfaces into sensors through the application of several layers of paint
Art and design are increasingly influenced by technology and electronics. After the robot artist who paints the walls of the house, here is the painting that turns the walls into sensors. Sprayable User Interfaces allows you to turn the sofa into a remote control, the coffee table into a volume control or the wall into a light switch.
The technology combines layers of colored paint and layers of copper-based conductive ink. The metal component, connected to a microcontroller, makes the design touch-sensitive. The invention was born in the Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science Laboratory at MIT, in collaboration with the University of Bristol and University of Bath. The use of special ink makes it possible to connect any type of drawing with the technologies present in the house.
“Our work contributes to the vision of blending digital user interfaces with the physical environment and extends it to large-scale interactive surfaces. Since our method only uses DIY equipment, i.e. an airbrush system and a set of sten-cils, our work is readily accessible to researchers and the maker community“, the researchers assure. The technology is not yet commercialized and needs further development for large-scale use. However, ease of application can revolutionize the design of smart buildings and architectures.