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Responsive Knit: the Evolution of a Programmable Material System

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Jane Scott

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0).


Abstract

Programmable knitting presents a new class of behaving textiles, responsive to environmental stimuli and programmed to change in shape as humidity levels in the environment increase. It is a hierarchical system that exploits the inherent functionality of textile fibres, yarns and fabrics to integrate shape change behaviour into the intrinsic structure of the material. The research applies a biomimicry methodology, with insight derived from the structural organisation of plant materials; specifically, the control of hygromorphic actuation for seed dispersal. This biological model has produced transferable principles for application to responsive textiles and it has been critical to the success of the research. But how can this research advance thinking on the design potential of programmable materials? This paper explores how the complex hierarchies that exist within textiles can be used to engineer a unique class of programmable systems. This challenges conventional smart interfaces that rely on mediated responses via electronic control. Instead this paper demonstrates how an alternative approach informed by biomimicry can generate a new class of smart-natural materials.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Scott J

Editor(s): Storni, C, Leahy, K, McMahon, M, Lloyd, P and Bohemia, E,

Publication type: Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstract)

Publication status: Published

Conference Name: DRS2018: Design as a catalyst for change

Year of Conference: 2018

Pages: 1800-1811

Online publication date: 25/06/2018

Acceptance date: 01/12/2017

Date deposited: 28/04/2020

Publisher: Design Research Society , London,

URL: https://doi.org/10.21606/dma.2018.535

DOI: 10.21606/dma.2018.535

Library holdings: Search Newcastle University Library for this item

ISBN: 9781912294190


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