Computer Made from Thread and Fabric
During university, I took on the challenge of creating a functional computer using thread and fabric as part of a digital design project. Through this challenge, I learned how to build circuits, write code, and gained a deeper understanding of how machines operate.
Project type
Group Project
Year
2022
Type
Interaction Design
Skills
UX design
Hexspace
Arduino
Coding
Duration
1 month
How I started the Project
The assignment was to create a digital design piece using experimental technology. During the COVID-19 pandemic, my entire life(from entertainment and communication to schoolwork) took place on my laptop. When it suddenly broke down, instead of repairing it and continuing with my original project plan, I decided to take a different approach: creating a prototype computer using unconventional materials I had never worked with before.As a first step, I chose fabric as the main material—opposite in nature to the hard materials of typical electronic devices—and researched various materials for building electronic circuits as well as possible output methods. With only two weeks to submit the final product, I used AI-assisted scripting to handle the programming.
Ultimately, I was able to complete an input/output device made from fabric and thread. When a user pressed the embroidered buttons on the fabric, the device would send a selected character to a mobile phone. The school requested that I submit this project to a competition, and it was later featured on the university’s website. Through this seemingly impossible project, I realized that when problems arise in everyday life, they can be turned into opportunities for personal growth.