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‘Sketching’ Electronics with Conductive Ink [Video]

Magnetic electronics and ferrous paper enable artistry in circuit design.
December 28, 2011

Leah Buechley is an assistant professor at the MIT Media Lab and the director of the aptly-named High-Low Tech research group. She does heaps of cool, subtle, under-appreciated stuff, and maybe some day when there’s a children’s toy, art class or hit product based on her work, she’ll be better known.

Until then, check out her latest video, above, which shows off a kit for “sketching” electronics. At about 1:20 you’ll see the culmination of the principles she makes apparent in the first part of the video; it’s worth the wait.

Here’s another example of her work in “paper computing.”

And here’s a collection of stunningly original using the LilyPad Arduino – everything from a sweater that uses a clever interface to play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to a crocheted “soft robot”.

Finally, here she is giving a talk on her work.

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