Material and production research to create a touchscreen accessory
Pepper’s ghost effect has been used in theatre productions as an extension of reality. The use of this phenomenon based on reflection has grown with the number of screens around us. In cooperation with the Berlin-based Fraunhofer CeRRI, options to add interaction to this typically static „hologram“experience were explored, expanding the interactivity of touchscreens into the third dimension.
JUWL Touch was possible by exploring materials such as reflective and bendable foils, conductive pastes and coatings, and different production techniques with partners around Germany.
JUWL is now an independent business offering media solutions for hologram experiences.
Concept by Jacqueline Hen and Martin Luge at Fraunhofer CeRRI
Creative direction by FELD
Material and production research, prototyping & small batch production management by Karsten Schuhl
JUWL WebApp by Michael Markert
Created while being a part of FELD
A symmetric but non-isosceles triangle forms the basis for touch recognition, which uses three pads in contact with the touchscreen.
Material and geometry tests were conducted to register position and orientation on capacitive touchscreens. A variety of materials and configurations were tested, from custom silicone mixtures infused with graphite or silver to coated PCBs to reduce friction and scratches on the touchscreen's glass.
To enhance JUWL's inherent capacity, a conductive connection to the user's hand needed to be established to allow for continuous tracking of the accessory's position and orientation, thus enabling smooth interaction.
