Responsive Gel

• Physical Computing
• 2009

Silicone slab with embedded bend sensors and vibration motors. Simulates the felt material properties of arbitrary materials.

Responsive Gel is an apparatus capable of synthesizing new forms of quasi-physical "computational matter" in a neutral material substrate. Computational matter is different from ordinary matter in that it is defined only phenomenally – the only properties are felt sensations. Responsive Gel consists of an array of bend sensors and vibrotactile actuators embedded in pliable silicone gel that respond to contortion with rich, realistic or hyperrealistic vibrations that simulate the tactile sensations of arbitrary materials.