Open Access

Ramyah Gowrishankar

• Within the application context of interior spaces, this thesis investigates the emerging area of body-driven energy harvesting technologies from the perspective of human computer interaction (HCI) design. Upcoming innovations in new materials and low-power devices have enabled the conversion of body movements such as steps and arm movements into electrical energy for powering small computational things. Everyday interior spaces such as public buildings or homes can be fitted with new materials that harness human kinetic energy to produce electrical energy. Recent developments in the area of engineering and materials science aim to make these technologies more efficient. However, research about the implications of implementing them in the everyday from the perspective of the experiences and interactions of the people adopting these technologies is highly under-explored. In order to examine this design space, this research proposes to identify emerging concerns and challenges brought by everyday engagement with electricity productionWithin the application context of interior spaces, this thesis investigates the emerging area of body-driven energy harvesting technologies from the perspective of human computer interaction (HCI) design. Upcoming innovations in new materials and low-power devices have enabled the conversion of body movements such as steps and arm movements into electrical energy for powering small computational things. Everyday interior spaces such as public buildings or homes can be fitted with new materials that harness human kinetic energy to produce electrical energy. Recent developments in the area of engineering and materials science aim to make these technologies more efficient. However, research about the implications of implementing them in the everyday from the perspective of the experiences and interactions of the people adopting these technologies is highly under-explored. In order to examine this design space, this research proposes to identify emerging concerns and challenges brought by everyday engagement with electricity production that need to be addressed through an interaction design inquiry. To investigate the above proposition, a design program situated between the field of human computer interaction research and the practice of e-textile design is formulated with the aim to investigate, at the scale of the interior, how static electricity can bring new perspectives and possibilities for ways of engaging with e-textiles, and designing interactions for energy harvesting with textiles. The research sets up four research studies to systematically explore the design program. These research studies focus on four questions of how static electricity shapes e-textiles, how electrostatic textiles shape e-textile interactions, how e-static interactions shape everyday behaviours and how e-static studies shape energy interpretations. By developing a working knowledge of textile-based triboelectric generators, various body-generated electricity systems of different scales are envisioned. In the process of making, discovering and exploring different textile systems, questions regarding human interactions, material behaviours and the role of electricity in the everyday are discussed. This thesis contributes to the practice of e-textiles by creating the foundational knowledge of using static electricity as a resource in e-textile design and development without needing specialised materials. Furthermore, it contributes to the field of human computer interaction research by further developing the topic of energy harvesting as a research area of interaction design. The thesis identifies two key areas for addressing challenges presented by body-driven energy harvesting with HCI which include considering accumulation of interactions over time and incorporating the electric properties of the body in interaction. Additionally, practical outcomes of this research include: 1) www.estatictextiles.cc- An online handbook for learning about and working with static electricity and e-textiles which includes tutorials and examples from the research process. And 2) E-static textiles prototyping board- A prototyping board developed for easy integration of static electricity and textiles to be used as an educational tool for designing and prototyping electrostatic energy-related interactions.…