future interfaces group uses conductive paint to turn any surface into a touch pad

the future interfaces group made waves last year with their skintrack technology, which enabled humans to transform their own skin into a touch pad to control a phone or smartwatch. now, the group are expanding beyond only using skin as an interface, instead trialling the technology with absolutely anything and everything. for their ‘electrick’ project, the group have used conductive paint to turn virtually any surface into a touch pad, from a guitar to a play-doh snowman, and even a jell-o brain. 

touch screens are cropping up more and more in every day life, but they all tend to be concentrated in small flat spaces such as smartphone screens, tablets or in kiosks. the future interfaces group sets out to bring touch technology to larger or irregular-shapes objects like walls, tools, or toys. the project works by spraying on conductive paint to the surface in question, then adding on electrodes and computing where the touch points are. a colorful top coat can also be added.

the ‘electrick’ project works by adding an electric current over the conductive surface, using a pair of electrodes. when a finger touches the surfes, the current is disrupted, and ‘electrick’ can detect exactly at which point the object has been touched. the future interfaces group intend for electrick to be used by designers for rapid prototyping, allowing touch screens to be added temporarily, and at a low cost. electrick suffices for the designers to see how their touch pad will work, and test out the functionalilty. 

with electrick, even 3D-printed objects made with carbon ABS can be made touch sensitive. the team also try out using carbon conductive paint to make a guitar touch sensitive, or spraying a wall with the paint to create an integrated touch light switch.