joong han lee: haptic intelligentsia

‘haptic intelligentsia’ by joong han lee all images © joong han lee

korean-born, netherlands-based designer joong han lee of studio homunculus has created a new system of making, based on the idea of bringing a hand craftsmanship into a computerized technology. his project ‘haptic intelligentsia’ was shown in the masters graduation galleries at the design academy eindhoven during dutch design week 2011.

the project is a modified 3D printing machine that allows the user to tactually perceive a virtual object, and then directly transform the digital concept into a physical reality. the user can freely move the extruding gun, which is attached to a haptic interface. when the tip of the gun is moved into a surface region of the virtual object, the interface generates forces under computer control, allowing the user to ‘feel’ and ‘touch’ the virtual model. without looking at the computer screen, the only way to visualize the design is to pull the trigger and extrude the material, observing the object as it is created.

additional view, ‘haptic intelligentsia’ machine on exhibition during dutch design week 2011 image © designboom

closer view of device in use: touching and materializing the surface of the virtual object through haptic force feedback

completed model image © designboom

detail view

designer joon han lee demonstrates the use of ‘hpatic intelligentsia’ at dutch design week

conceptual sketch of the project’s transformation from digital to physical form

conceptual drawing of ‘haptic intelligentsia’ 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication.