I’m playing with electronics and crocheting atm. Imagining what other ways there are to interact with a computer, other than keyboard and mouse. This is a custom made bend/pressure sensor using copper sheets, velostat as a semi-conductive layer in between, with a crochet leaf on top and felt on the bottom, for a soft, non metallic feel 🐑

oh my god this is amazing

I love it. Have you considered any other sensors than bend sensor?

Currently it’s actually quite versatile in being able to be a button, pressure sensor, and bend sensor, I’m thinking if I duplicate the circuitry with a matrix of them, it could be a trackpad of sorts but on non-flat surfaces. I think that kind of sensing fits textile materials best. Maybe a stretch sensor would be neat too. Did you have any sensors in mind @Dan Groshev? I’ve sent you this Dan, but this is a great treasure trove of ideas for etextile sensors for anyone else interested.

That's a great link. I think it would be cool if the shape (the way it's knitted) changes the behavior of the sensor. Measure electricity (static) directly? Then one could create software by knitting. Maybe it would look more like a Quipu (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quipu)..

I did notice https://futureofcoding.slack.com/archives/CCL5VVBAN/p1711120929764279?thread_ts=1711120929.764279&cid=CCL5VVBAN I am looking into using conductive thread to add features more aligned with the material. Being able to digitally detect where knots are could be quite cool. Also maybe I could somehow make a material based sequencer based on weaving conductive/non conductive thread between a base sheet 🤔