SPIN (Self-powered Paper INterfaces), 2019-2020

Chris Chen, David Howard, Steven L. Zhang, Youngwook Do, Sienna Sun, Tingyu Cheng, Zhong Lin Wang, Gregory D. Abowd, HyunJoo Oh

SPIN: Bridging Triboelectric Nanogenerator with Folding Paper Creases, TEI 2020: DOI PDF

SPIN explores combining folding paper creases with triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG). Embedding TENG into paper creases, we developed a design editor and set of fabrication techniques to create paper-based interfaces that power sensors and actuators. Our SPIN design editor enables users to design their own crease pattern by changing parameters, embed power generating modules into the design, estimate total power generation, and export the files. Then following the fabrication instructions, users can cut and crease materials, and assemble them to build their own interfaces. We employ repetitive push-and-pull based embodied interactions with the mechanism of paper creases and demonstrate four application examples that show new expressive possibilities applying different scales of embodied interactions.