Paja

overall view: arduino, chip and wires on breadboard, touch sensor and program on background.

Touch sensor is component of many (tangible) interfaces and uses. with proper chip it will send binaric on-off (touched-intact) data or can be utilised as on-off switch. in “touch mode” the binaric value is 0 when touched, and otherwise 1. In on off mode touching will change 0 to 1 and 1 to 0. So, it works just like light switch.

Controller chip on breadboard. Black wire goes to sensor.

Touch component reacts from ~1 cm distance, no touching is required. It can be placed behind thin walls to react on press, or even under mouse matt:

Here the touch sensor will react if the mouse reaches the corner. Touch sensor merged with other components can create funny and interactive tangible toys and interfaces. E.g. vibrating component and touch sensor in rabbits ears could make ears wobble if one touches them. Component of creative use!

Experiments of Joonas Kiviharju and Jukka Liukkonen.