In general, interface developments present us with solid devices that depend on the flexibility and dynamism of the user. But what do we get when we transfer those two virtues to the device itself? The answer comes through the Lineform project, carried out by designers based at MIT. This robotic worm can function as a touch surface, reminder system, phone, smart lamp, and motion sensor, among other things.
Let's think for a moment about the most popular interfaces. In almost all cases, it is the user who must adapt to them, not the other way around. A gesture-recognition glove can be very interesting, but the truth is that the user is forced to learn each gesture to master it completely. Touch screens present difficulties for those with vision problems, and I don't need to point out that the keyboard has caused deep rejection (or actually, still does) among millions of people who cannot press two keys together without looking down. That said, how could we implement a flexible interface concept, not just physically, but also functionally?
The MIT team has a very striking and unusual idea with its Lineform project, which at first glance looks like a kind of chain or belt. Of course, once it receives its first commands, Lineform reacts as if it had a life of its own, something that has caused more than a scare according to its creators. On the technical side, Lineform is made up of a group of motors connected to an Arduino Mega, covered with black spandex and integrated touch sensors. Lineform has demonstrated a remarkable ability to replace several devices at once: spandex works as a touch surface, a slight touch or vibration on our wrist turns it into an alarm, it can take the shape of a lamp thanks to a special adapter, changes to "phone mode" when a call comes in, or reproduces its shape digitally, creating different 3D models.
A detail to keep in mind about Lineform is that it should be relatively easy to modify its scale, although rigidity and resolution parameters depend on several factors. If we limit ourselves to seeing it as a prototype, Lineform is excellent, and its responsiveness leaves us amazed. At the same time… it is logical to understand why people feel a bit intimidated when they see it working...
