How can technology bring creative ideas to life? At a recent showcase held at the Performance Café, students from INFOSCI 201: Interaction & Physical Computing presented their final projects, exploring how programming, electronics, and physical objects can come together to create interactive experiences.
Taught by Professor Giovanni Santini, the course brings together technology and creative design. The showcase featured a wide range of student projects, each offering a different approach to connecting the digital and physical worlds.
Some students explored new ways of interacting with digital environments through body movements. One project featured a glove connected to electronic components and a computer, while another used a wearable device attached to the arm. These projects demonstrated different possibilities for interaction beyond traditional keyboards and screens.
Some other students focused on games and playful designs. One project combined handmade cardboard drink containers with a digital game, while another featured a small handheld game console with physical buttons and a colorful animated display. A candy-themed model brought together handmade structures, colorful lights, and electronic components, showing how technology could become part of an imaginative physical experience. Other creations included a small character-like device with a digital face and an electronic eye mechanism.
Despite their different designs, the projects shared a common goal of making technology more interactive and engaging. Through programming, sensors, circuits, and handmade materials, students transformed their ideas into physical creations.
The showcase highlighted the creativity and technical experimentation within the Computation and Design community. From wearable devices to interactive games, the projects demonstrated how students can bring together design and technology to explore new possibilities for human interaction.