Haptic 4D Printing for Enhanced Sensemaking

We propose H4DES, a project to improve human sensemaking with haptic information encoding in 4D printed artifacts. Physicalizations — physical representations of data — leverage tactile perception besides the usual visual channel for information encoding. Elastic artifacts can be generated with conventional 3D printing technology and the help of metamaterials, while using conventional accesible ressources. We will investigate the benefits of haptic encoding on three different levels. Firstly, we investigate the encoding of dynamic data into tangible artifacts data to create three-dimensional objects encoding time in their metastructure-informed behavior. Secondly, we focus on transforming multi dimensional and multivariate data in ways that support human sensemaking through haptics. Lastly, we integrate sensing capabilities into haptic artifacts to produce tangible user interfaces with predetermined behavior. Employing mixed methods human subject study designs in controlled lab studies we will highlight the specific benefits of active data physicalizations. The outcomes of this project will find application in a number of fields. Investigating perception and interaction with haptically enhanced artifacts will benefit future findings in human-computer interaction. The resulting manufacturing pipelines can find direct use in the medical community, as validation tools for imaging technologies, learning aides for professionals, tangible illustrations for non-visual data, and customized haptic input devices.