New 3D Printing System Makes Interactive Objects that Change Appearance Based on User Interaction

Many dynamic, interactive objects change their appearance through the use of electronics, like LEDs and screens. But if the object is squished, twisted, or pressed too hard, or exposed to chemicals or water, those electronics won’t work properly anymore. Surface optics can change the appearance of an object without delicate electronics, but their interactivity is fairly limited, as static labels like stickers or curved lenses create visual effects based only on where the user is looking.

A team of researchers, based at MIT, have created a new 3D printing system for making interactive objects that can change their appearance not with electronics, but when they are turned, pressed, or slid. Their ShiftLens design and fabrication system uses small, controlled mechanical shifts, combining bui