Abstract

The Interactive Bench is an experimental public furniture design that aims to explore the relation between forms and functions; and the interaction between objects and human beings. Being set up in the public places like parks and subway stations, it can perform different shapes by moving the parts dynamically on its seat. It can also detect if humans are seated on certain areas, and then actuator a few playful tangible interactions with the person to express certain abstract emotions or personalities.

Context / Research

Inspired by the public benches in New York City, I observed those benches in up to 20 city parks, squares and subway stations. Meantime, I also paid attention to how people use and interact with benches. That makes me think about the purpose behind the design, the interaction between people and bench, also further possible design for it.  

My project brings up people’s thinking on could variable forms decide variable functions? 

It also emphasis on the relation between users, object and environment, rather than just being an interactive installation, it could also exhibit real functions for people to use. Similar projects are Musical Swings, Musical Bench, and Expressive Tactile Button.

I chose Arduino 33 to be the main controller, and use 9 shift registers to control 21 cap sensor and 21 shift linear actuators. For the material, I chose to use plywood board and pillars

Use cases & Interaction scenarios

By changing its own shape, users could have different ways to interactive with the bench. It only affects the human-to-object interaction, but also brings changes to our human-to-human interactions in a dynamic way.