"Sketching" Electronics With Conductive Ink

Magnetic electronics and ferrous paper enable artistry in circuit design

CHRISTOPHER MIMS 

Leah Buechley is an assistant professor at the MIT Media Lab and the director of the aptly-namedHigh-Low Tech research group. She does heaps of cool, subtle, under-appreciated stuff, and maybe some day when there's a children's toy, art class or hit product based on her work, she'll be better known.

Until then, check out her latest video, above, which shows off a kit for "sketching" electronics. At about 1:20 you'll see the culmination of the principles she makes apparent in the first part of the video; it's worth the wait.

Here's another example of her work in "paper computing."

And here's a collection of stunningly original using the LilyPad Arduino -- everything from a sweater that uses a clever interface to play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to a crocheted "soft robot".

Finally, here she is giving a talk on her work.