EmTex: Prototyping Textile-Based Interfaces through An Embroidered Construction Kit

As electronic textiles have become more advanced in sensing, ac- tuating, and manufacturing, incorporating smartness into fabrics has become of special interest to ubiquitous computing and interac- tion researchers and designers. However, innovating smart textile interfaces for numerous input and output modalities usually re- quires expert-level knowledge of specific materials, fabrication, and protocols. This paper presents EmTex, a construction kit based on embroidered textiles, patterned with dedicated sensing, actuating, and connecting components to facilitate the design and prototyp- ing of smart textile interfaces. With machine embroidery, EmTex is compatible with a wide range of threads and underlay fabrics, proficient in various stitches to control the electric parameters, and capable of integrating versatile and reliable interaction functionali- ties with aesthetic patterns and precise designs. EmTex consists of 28 textile-based sensors, actuators, connectors, and displays, pre- sented with standardized visual and tactile effects. Along with a visual programming tool, EmTex enables the prototyping of every- day textile interfaces for diverse life-living scenarios, that embody their touch input, and visual and haptic output properties. With EmTex, we conducted a workshop and invited 25 designers and makers to create freeform textile interfaces. Our findings revealed that EmTex helped the participants explore novel interaction oppor- tunities with various smart textile prototypes. We also identified challenges EmTex shall face for practical use in promoting the design innovation of smart textiles.

Tongji University, Shanghai, China